Li Hui Ma v. Gonzales

*846 MEMORANDUM **

Li Hui Ma is a native and citizen of China. Ma petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision, which affirmed the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying her application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 .

Where, as here, the BIA adopts and affirms the IJ’s decision, we review the decision of the IJ as if it were that of the BIA. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir.2003). We review for substantial evidence an adverse credibility determination, Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1042-43 (9th Cir.2001), and we deny this petition for review.

The IJ offered a specific, cogent reason for his credibility determination based on an inconsistency regarding the amount of the fine imposed on Ma for his family practice violation. Because this goes to the heart of Ma’s asylum claim, substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility determination. See id.; see also Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 964 (9th Cir. 2004) (this court is bound to accept the IJ’s adverse credibility finding so long as one of the IJ’s identified…