Priala

MEMORANDUM **

Mihai Priala, a native and citizen of Romania, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) order affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) decisión denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481-84 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992), and we deny the petition for review.

Priala claims to fear persecution by the Romanian police on account of his Pentecostal religion. Priala’s testimony, however, showed a lack of knowledge of the basic principles of Pentecostalism, despite his proclaimed faith and upbringing as a preacher’s son. Priala’s testimony was also inconsistent about whether he left Romania illegally or with a passport and the permission of the police. These inconsistencies go to the heart of Priala’s claim of persecution. See Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir.2001).

Priala voluntarily returned to Romania in 2000 and his father has continued to preach and live in Romania without incident. See Hakeem v. INS, 273 F.3d 812,…