Perez-Juarez
Perez-Juarez v. Ashcroft
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM ***
Mayra Veronica Perez-Juarez, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ summary affirmance of an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of her applications for asylum and withholding of remov *542 al. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence adverse credibility findings, Gui v. INS, 280 F.3d 1217, 1225 (9th Cir.2002), and we deny the petition for review.
In finding Perez-Juarez not credible, the IJ pointed to inconsistencies between Perez-Juarez’ testimony and her asylum application. For example, Perez-Juarez’ application does not indicate that Perez-Juarez and her family were held captive for two weeks and beaten whereas she testified that they were. These inconsistencies are substantial, go to the heart of Perez-Juarez’ claim that Guatemalan guerillas detained and beat Perez-Juarez and her family, and constitute specific, cogent reasons for finding Perez-Juarez not credible. See Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir.2001) (holding that inconsistencies are not minor when they relate to the basis for petitioner’s alleged fear of persecution).