Sudan Zhang v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner Sudan Zhang, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of an order, issued by the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”), dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying her application for asylum and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). The REAL ID Act governs this case. Reviewing for substantial evidence the agency’s adverse credibility determination, Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039 (9th Cir.2010), we deny the petition for review.

1. Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination, which the BIA affirmed. For example, the IJ observed that Petitioner’s demeanor changed to one of “confusion and indecisiveness” when asked about her abortion certificate. “We give ‘special deference’ to a credibility determination that is based on demeanor.” Jibril v. Gonzales, 423 F.3d 1129, 1137 (9th Cir.2005) (internal quotation marks omitted). The IJ identified several inconsistencies between the narrative in Petitioner’s asylum application and her testimony, including inconsistencies about her parents’ knowledge of her relationship and about her boyfriend’s presence when she conducted…