Xin Wen Zheng v. Mukasey

MEMORANDUM **

Xin Wen Zheng and her husband Jie Teng, natives and citizens of China, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying Zheng’s claim for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, see Singh v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 1100, 1105 (9th Cir.2006), and we grant the petition for review.

Substantial evidence does not support the IJ’s adverse credibility determination because, as the government concedes, it was based upon minor inconsistencies incidental to Zheng’s claim that she was persecuted on account of her religion. See id at 1108. Because there has been no ruling on the facts with Zheng’s testimony accepted as credible, we remand for the agency to redetermine her eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under CAT. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-18 , 123 S.Ct. 353 , 154 L.Ed.2d 272 (2002) (per curiam).

We also remand for the agency to redetermine Jie Teng’s eligibility for asylum as a derivative beneficiary of his wife’s…