Yambao

MEMORANDUM **

Gerry Baltazar Yambao, a native and citizen of the Philippines, petitions for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals summarily affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his application for asylum and withholding of deportation. Because the transitional rules apply, see Kalaw v. INS, 133 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.1997), we have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a). We review for substantial evidence, Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 992 (9th Cir.2003), and deny the petition for review.

There was support for the IJ’s determination that several of the documents Yambao offered into evidence may have been fraudulent, including the letters he offered to prove that he assisted the Philippine National Police. See Desta v. Ashcroft, 365 F.3d 741, 745 (9th Cir.2004). Because the genuineness of these documents goes to the heart of his claim, substantial evidence supports the adverse credibility determination. See id. (holding that substantial evidence supports an adverse credibility finding where an asylum applicant submits potentially fraudulent evidence).

The IJ properly admitted the government’s evidence to impeach Yambao as the evidence was…