Montoya Flores v. Ashcroft
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Hugo Rene Montoya-Flores, and his family, petition for review from the Board *761 of Immigration Appeals’ dismissal of their appeals of the IJ’s denial of their applications for asylum, withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture. They are native and citizens of Guatemala. The controlling issue is whether the IJ’s adverse credibility findings were supported by substantial evidence. We give “special deference” to credibility findings based on the petitioner’s demeanor. See Singh-Kaur v. INS, F.3d F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir.1999). In this case, the adverse credibility finding is supported by specific reasons and upon demeanor observations. The IJ noted specific discrepancies and inconsistencies between his application for asylum and the testimony he offered to the court.
The finding that the petitioners failed to show a well-founded fear of future persecution is supported by the record. Because it is more lenient than the standard for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture, those conclusions must be upheld as well. The denial of those applications must be upheld as well.