Mihalev

MEMORANDUM ***

Krasimir Ihev Mihalev, a native and citizen of Bulgaria, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 , and we deny the petition.

The Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denied relief based on his conclusion that Mihalev’s testimony was not credible. The IJ reinforced his credibility determination by noting that Mihalev failed to present corroborative evidence in support of his claim. Where, as here, the BIA affirms and adopts the decision of the IJ, we review the decision of the IJ as if it were that of the BIA. Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003). We review the IJ’s adversé credibility determination for substantial evidence and will reverse only if the evidence compels the conclusion that Mihalev is credible. Id.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility finding, based on implausibilities related to Mihalev’s claims that he is Roma and actually suffered the mistreatment alleged. These issues “go to the heart” of Mihalev’s claims for relief. See Guo v. Ashcroft,…