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CISSE v. GARLAND (2021)

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.2021-04-15No. No. 20-71333

Summary

Holding. The court denied the petition for review, affirming the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of Cisse's appeal and the immigration judge's denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection.

Soryba Cisse sought review of an immigration judge's rejection of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture. The court found substantial evidence supported the agency's determination that Cisse lacked credibility, noting significant omissions and contradictions between his initial credible fear interview and his later hearing testimony. Specifically, Cisse failed to mention religion as a basis for persecution in his prehearing interview and written statement, despite later claiming religious persecution at his hearing. The procedural safeguards in place during the interview—including an oath, interpreter, and written record—made the discrepancies reliable grounds for an adverse credibility finding.

Because Cisse's testimony was found not credible and his documentary evidence could not independently satisfy his burden of proof, his asylum and withholding claims failed. The court also upheld the denial of Convention Against Torture relief, finding that Cisse did not demonstrate it was more likely than not he would be tortured by or with the acquiescence of the Guinean government if returned. Finally, the court rejected Cisse's claim that the immigration judge violated his due process rights, holding that mere unfriendliness or confrontational behavior during proceedings does not establish fundamental unfairness.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether substantial evidence supported an adverse credibility determination based on omissions and inconsistencies between prehearing and hearing testimony
  • Whether documentary evidence could rehabilitate testimony found not credible
  • Whether applicant met the standard for Convention Against Torture relief
  • Whether immigration judge's demeanor during proceedings violated due process rights

Procedural posture

Cisse petitioned for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his appeal from an immigration judge's denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture protection.

Authorities cited

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Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Soryba Cisse petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) dismissal of his appeal from an immigration judges (“IJ”) denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We review the agencys “legal conclusions de novo and its factual findings for substantial evidence.” Bringas-Rodriguez v. Sessions, 850 F.3d 1051, 1059 (9th Cir. 2017) (en banc) (citations omitted). Exercising jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, we deny the petition for review.

1. Substantial evidence supports the agencys adverse credibility determination. The IJ found material, non-trivial omissions and inconsistencies between Cisses credible fear interview with an asylum officer and his hearing testimony, and between his documentary evidence and his hearing testimony. See Ren v. Holder, 648 F.3d 1079, 1089 (9th Cir. 2011).

Although Cisse alleged persecution on account of his religion, he did not mention religion in the prehearing interview or in the detailed written statement supporting his asylum application. Cisse did not simply fail to disclose details of the alleged persecution, he affirmatively denied threats or harm on account of his religion. See Li v. Ashcroft, 378 F.3d 959, 962-63 (9th Cir. 2004), superseded by statute on other grounds. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(1)(b)(iii).

The agency did not improperly rely on inconsistencies and omissions between Cisses prehearing interview and his hearing testimony. Unlike Joseph v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1235, 1243-44 (9th Cir. 2010), “procedural safeguards” were in place to “ensure reliability,” including the administration of an oath at the outset of the interview, the presence of a translator, and the existence of a written record of the questions and answers. At the conclusion of the interview, Cisse agreed with the asylum officers summary of his testimony and confirmed that he understood the questions and the interpreter. See Li, 378 F.3d at 962-63 (upholding adverse credibility determination based on discrepancies between petitioners statements in airport interview and subsequent testimony); see also Matter of J-C-H-F-, 27 I. & N. Dec. 211, 213 (B.I.A. 2018). The IJ found Cisses sworn statement to the asylum officer reliable and he did not contest that issue on appeal to the BIA.

The agency also did not err in concluding that documentary evidence did not rehabilitate Cisses testimony or independently meet his burden of proof. In the absence of credible testimony or other evidence to meet his burden, Cisses asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. Wang v. Sessions, 861 F.3d 1003, 1009 (9th Cir. 2017).

2. Cisse does not meaningfully challenge the BIAs affirmance of the denial of CAT protection. See Fed. R. App. P. 28(a)(8). Additionally, substantial evidence supports the agencys denial of CAT relief because Cisse failed to show that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Guinea. See Delgado-Ortiz v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1148, 1152 (9th Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (holding generalized evidence of violence and crime in petitioners home country was insufficient to meet the standard for CAT relief).

3. Cisses claim that the IJ violated his due process rights also fails. To demonstrate that an IJ committed a due process violation, a petitioner must show that “the underlying IJ proceeding was ‘so fundamentally unfair that the alien was prevented from reasonably presenting his case.’ ” Rizo v. Lynch, 810 F.3d 688, 693 (9th Cir. 2016) (citation omitted). Cisse argues that the IJ expressed frustration during the proceedings. But “a mere showing that the IJ was unfriendly, confrontational, or acted in an adversarial manner is not enough to” show that a proceeding was fundamentally unfair. Id. (citations omitted).

5. We deny as moot the motion for stay of removal.

PETITION DENIED.