Opinion
No. 05-76077.
The panel unanimously finds this case suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed.R.App.P. 34(a)(2).
Filed February 26, 2007.
Jasvinder Singh Chhokar, Yuba City, CA, pro se.
Kristin R. Muenzen, Virginia Lum, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Ronald E. LeFevre, Chief Counsel, Office of the District Counsel, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals. Agency No. A97-112-669.
Before: BEEZER, FERNANDEZ and McKEOWN, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Jasvinder Singh Chhokar, a native and citizen of India, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") decision, which adopted and affirmed 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.
We review the IJ's decision for substantial evidence, See Abebe v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 1037, 1039-41 (9th Cir. 2005) (en banc), and we deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the IJ's adverse credibility determination because the IJ relied on inconsistencies between Chhokar's testimony and declaration that go to the heart of Chhokar's asylum claim, including inconsistencies regarding Chhokar's second arrest. See Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1043 (9th Cir. 2001).
Because Chhokar did not establish that he was eligible for asylum, it follows that he did not satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Alvarez-Santos v. INS, 332 F.3d 1245, 1255 (9th Cir. 2003).
Substantial evidence also supports the denial of CAT relief because Chhokar did not establish that it is more likely than not that he will be tortured if he returns to India. See Malhi v. INS, 336 F.3d 989, 993 (9th Cir. 2003).