Plamen Simeonov v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Plamen Simeonov Simeonov and Mariyana Valcheva Simeonova, natives and citizens of Bulgaria, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying their application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, Garrovillas v. INS, 156 F.3d 1010, 1013 (9th Cir.1998), and grant in part and deny in part the petition for review, and remand.

Substantial evidence does not support the Id’s adverse credibility determination in that the IJ’s finding that Simeonov’s testimony was vague and general is belied by the record, and the IJ failed to point to any specific and cogent reason for disbelieving his testimony. See id. at 1013 (generalized statements that do not identify specific examples of evasiveness or contradiction in the petitioner’s testimony are insufficient to support an adverse credibility determination). Further corroboration was therefore not required. See Kaur v. Ashcroft, 379 F.3d 876, 890 (9th Cir.2004). Because it is apparent from the…