Khin Maung Myint v. Gonzales

Good Law
233 F. App'x 693
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMay 24, 2007No. 05-76694California265 words

Opinion

Lead Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Khin Maung Myint, a native and citizen of Burma, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) decision, affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 .

Where the BIA reviews for clear- error, this Court looks to the IJ’s decision “as a guide to what lay behind the BIA’s conclusion.” Kozulin v. INS, 218 F.3d 1112, 1115 (9th Cir.2000). We review for substantial evidence, Bandari v. INS, 227 F.3d 1160, 1165 (9th Cir.2000), and we grant the petition for review and remand.

Substantial evidence does not support the BIA’s adverse credibility finding. The BIA’s finding that Myint testified inconsistently regarding when he obtained his passport is not supported because the record shows that Myint did not testify inconsistently. See id. at 1167 . Similarly, the BIA’s demeanor finding that Myint was unresponsive and obtuse is not supported by the record. See Arulampalam v. Ashcroft, 353 F.3d 679, 686-87 (9th Cir.2003); see also Garrovillas v. INS, 156 F.3d 1010, 1015-16 (9th Cir.1998).

*694…

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