NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS AUG 22 2022 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT RONG LIU; SHUYUN LIU, No. 15-73717 Petitioners, Agency Nos. A088-800-132 A088-800-131 v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney MEMORANDUM* General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted August 17, 2022** Before: S.R. THOMAS, PAEZ, and LEE, Circuit Judges. Rong Liu and Shuyun Liu, natives and citizens of China, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying their application for asylum, and denying Rong Liu’s applications for withholding of removal and protection under * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility determinations under the REAL ID Act. Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039-40 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review. In their opening brief, petitioners do not contend the BIA erred in its determination that they waived any challenge to the IJ’s determination that their asylum application was untimely filed. See Lopez-Vasquez v. Holder, 706 F.3d 1072, 1079-80 (9th Cir. 2013) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived). Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination based on Rong Liu’s fraudulent immigration applications; inconsistencies within Rong Liu’s testimony and between her testimony and her documentary evidence as to her employment in China; and Rong Liu’s two voluntary return trips to China. See Shrestha, 590 F.3d at 1048 (adverse credibility finding reasonable under the totality of the circumstances); see also Li v. Garland, 13 F.4th 954, 961 (9th Cir. 2021) (false information on visa application supported adverse credibility determination); Loho v. Mukasey, 531 F.3d 1016, 1018-19 (9th Cir. 2008) (voluntary returns to home country supported adverse credibility determination). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s finding that Rong Liu’s 2 15-73717 documentary evidence did not independently establish eligibility for relief. See Garcia v. Holder, 749 F.3d 785, 791 (9th Cir. 2014) (petitioner’s documentary evidence was insufficient to independently support claim). Thus, in the absence of credible testimony, in this case, Rong Liu’s withholding of removal claim fails. See Farah v. Ashcroft, 348 F.3d 1153, 1156 (9th Cir. 2003). In their opening brief, petitioners do not contend the BIA erred in its determination that they waived any challenge to the IJ’s denial of CAT protection. See Lopez-Vasquez, 706 F.3d at 1079-80. We lack jurisdiction to consider Rong Liu’s contentions as to the merits of her CAT claim because she did not raise them to the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th …
Original document
Source: All recent Immigration Decisions In All the U.S. Courts of Appeals