Liangzhong Shao v. Eric Holder, Jr.
Opinion
Opinion
MEMORANDUM
Liangzhong Shao, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“U”) decision denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility determinations created by the REAL ID Act. Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039-40 (9th Cir.2010). We deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination under the totality of the circumstances. See id. at 1048 . The agency was not compelled to accept Shao’s explanation that his memory was poor. See Zamanov v. Holder, 649 F.3d 969, 974 (9th Cir.2011). Further, we reject as contrary to the record Shao’s contention that the BIA did not consider this explanation in assessing the IJ’s adverse credibility finding. In the absence of credible testimony, Shao’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003).