Ying Fan v. Gonzales

MEMORANDUM **

Ying Fan, a native and citizen of China, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum, withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (the “Convention”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 , and we deny the petition.

Fan contends that the IJ’s adverse credibility determination lacks a valid basis. We disagree. The IJ’s adverse credibility finding rests in part on inconsistencies between Fan’s testimony and asylum application regarding the reason why Fan began the practice of Falun Gong. Because these inconsistencies go to the heart of Fan’s claim of persecution, they constitute substantial evidence supporting the finding that Fan was not credible. See Wang v. INS, 352 F.3d 1250, 1259 (9th Cir.2003); Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir.2001). The adverse credibility determination is also supported by the cumulative effect of other inconsistencies and implausibilities in Fan’s testimony. See Kaur v. Gonzales, 418 F.3d 1061, 1067 (9th Cir.2005).

Because Fan cannot meet the lower standard of eligibility for asylum,…