Jie Zhang v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Petitioner Jie Zhang (“Zhang”), a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of a decision from the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) in which the BIA dismissed his appeal from the immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum, withholding from removal, and protection under Article III of the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).

Where the BIA conducts its own review of the evidence and law rather than adopting the IJ’s decision, this court limits its review to the BIA’s decision, except to the extent that the BIA expressly adopts the IJ’s opinion. Hosseini v. Gonzales, 471 F.3d 958, 957 (9th Cir.2006). This court reviews legal questions de novo and reviews factual findings under the “substantial evidence standard, treating them as ‘conclusive unless any reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.’ ” Lopez-Cardona v. Holder, 662 F.3d 1110, 1111 (9th Cir.2011) (quoting 8 U.S.C. § 1252 (b)(4)(B)).

This court reviews adverse credibility findings under the substantial evidence standard. Rizk v. Holder, 629 F.3d 1083, 1087 (9th Cir.2011). This court reviews a ruling denying asylum or withholding of removal for…