Xiaozhen Weng v. Loretta E. Lynch

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS AUG 3 2016 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT XIAOZHEN WENG, No. 14-72848 Petitioner, Agency No. A087-593-455 v. MEMORANDUM* LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted July 26, 2016** Before: SCHROEDER, CANBY, and CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges. Xiaozhen Weng, a native and citizen of China, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence * 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 agency’s factual findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility determinations created by the REAL ID Act, Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039-40 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny the petition for review. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination based on an omission of Weng’s father’s eye injury, and inconsistencies regarding Weng’s passport, an alleged guarantee letter, and the conditions of Weng’s release from detention. See id. at 1048 (adverse credibility determination was reasonable under the “totality of circumstances.”). Weng’s explanations for the inconsistencies and omission do not compel a contrary conclusion. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir. 2000). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that, even if Weng is Christian and practiced Christianity in the United States, she failed to establish a well-founded fear of persecution in China. See Gu v. Gonzales, 454 F.3d 1014, 1022 (9th Cir. 2006) (petitioner failed to present compelling objective evidence demonstrating a well-founded fear of future persecution). Thus, Weng’s asylum claim fails. Because Weng failed to establish eligibility for asylum, she necessarily failed to meet the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Huang v. Holder, 744 F.3d 1149, 1156 (9th Cir. 2014). 2 14-72848 PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 3 14-72848