Sivalingam v. Garland

Case: 20-60934 Document: 00516582389 Page: 1 Date Filed: 12/19/2022
United States Court of Appeals
for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
December 19, 2022
No. 20-60934 Lyle W. Cayce
Clerk
Thelipananthan Sivalingam,
Petitioner,
versus
Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General,
Respondent.
Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
BIA No. A201 573 050
Before Jones, Southwick, and Ho, Circuit Judges.
Per Curiam:*
In this immigration case, the petitioner argues he is entitled to relief
from removal because the Board of Immigration Appeals erred when it
evaluated his credibility, denied him a continuance to allow gathering more
evidence, faulted him for the absence of corroboration of some of his claims,
and failed to provide a better translator so he could understand the
proceedings. We conclude there was no error and DENY his petition.
*
This opinion is not designated for publication. See 5th Cir. R. 47.5.
Case: 20-60934 Document: 00516582389 Page: 2 Date Filed: 12/19/2022
No. 20-60934
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Thelipananthan Sivalingam, a native and citizen of Sri Lanka, applied
for asylum and withholding of removal, asserting, as relevant now, that he
was persecuted on account of his race and political opinion; he also sought
protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).
Sivalingam testified in the hearing about two incidents in which he was
detained by the “Army CID” 1 and beaten. He asserted his targeting was on
account of his suspected membership in the Tamil Liberation Tigers, but he
denied being a member. Sivalingam received medical treatment for the
injuries suffered during his detentions. Sivalingam’s assertions included that
he had a well-founded fear of a “pattern or practice of persecution” because
he is a Tamil. He also claimed that he would face persecution on account of
imputed political opinion as a failed asylum seeker.
The immigration judge (IJ) determined that, under the totality of the
circumstances, Sivalingam was not a credible witness. The IJ based her
credibility finding on Sivalingam’s evasive, incomplete answers to questions
and his demeanor; the IJ also identified a specific inconsistency in
Sivalingam’s account. Further, the IJ faulted Sivalingam for failing to
provide corroborating evidence of his claim, such as records of his medical
treatments.
Based on the adverse credibility determination, as well as on a
determination that the alleged harms did not rise to the level of persecution,
the IJ determined that Sivalingam did not establish past persecution. The IJ
1
In another case in which an alien claimed persecution in Sri Lanka and was
represented by the same attorney who represents Sivalingam, this court’s opinion stated
that “CID” stands for the Criminal Investigation Department of the Sri Lanka Police.
Arulnanthy v. Garland, 17 F.4th 586, 590 (5th Cir. 2021).
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also determined that Sivalingam did not establish a well-founded fear of
future persecution based on a protected ground. The IJ denied asylum and
withholding of removal.
The IJ denied CAT protection based in part on the adverse credibility
finding, but the IJ also determined that Sivalingam would not be entitled to
CAT protection even if his testimony were credible.
On appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) determined the
IJ did not clearly err in making an adverse credibility determination, citing
the inconsistency in Sivalingam’s account and the IJ’s observations that he
was evasive in answering questions. The BIA rejected arguments that any
evasiveness was due to problems with the telephonic interpretation and that
these problems violated his due process rights. The BIA also mentioned
Sivalingam’s failure to provide corroborating evidence. The BIA affirmed
the IJ’s denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under CAT. The
BIA also held that the IJ did not abuse her discretion in denying a
continuance.
DISCUSSION
Where, as here, “the BIA affirms the immigration judge and relies on
the reasons set forth in the immigration judge’s decision, this court reviews
the decision of the immigration judge as well as the decision of the BIA.”
Ahmed v. Gonzales, 447 F.3d 433, 437 (5th Cir. 2006). “Factual findings are
reviewed for substantial evidence, and constitutional claims and questions of
law are reviewed de novo.” Tibakweitira v. Wilkinson, 986 F.3d 905, 910 (5th
Cir. 2021). The substantial evidence standard is deferential, meaning that
“administrative findings of fact are conclusive unless any reasonable
adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8 U.S.C. §
1252(b)(4)(B); see I.N.S. v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483–84 (1992).
We now review each of Sivalingam’s arguments.
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I. Asylum claim
Sivalingam first argues that the IJ and BIA erred by denying his asylum
claim based on the adverse credibility determination. He asserts that his
status as a failed asylum seeker is unaffected by the credibility finding, and
also mentions his Tamil ethnicity — and his ethnicity in conjunction with his
status as a failed asylum seeker — as other possible bases to support his
asylum claim. To qualify for asylum, an individual must establish either past
“persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution” in the future. 8 U.S.C.
§ 1101(a)(42); 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(b).
As to past persecution, the IJ determined that Sivalingam’s testimony
should be given “little weight due to the adverse credibility finding.” Even
considering that testimony, though, the IJ concluded Sivalingam’s accounts
of injuries and detention at the hands of the CID did not “rise to the level of
persecution.” Sivalingam does not challenge the IJ’s adverse credibility
determination. The IJ’s findings as to past persecution, and the BIA’s
affirmance, are well-supported by the evidence and were not in error.
As to fear of persecution, the IJ determined Sivalingam’s testimony
and general country conditions evidence did not establish that he would be
persecuted either as a suspected member of the Tamil Liberation Tigers or
for his Tamil ethnicity. The IJ also found that Sivalingam could relocate
within Sri Lanka to avoid persecution.
The IJ also analyzed Sivalingam’s request for asylum based on being a
failed asylum seeker. The IJ acknowledged that there was “evidence people
who left the country illegally or to seek asylum may face persecution or
harm” but then determined that there was not sufficient evidence to show
this applied to Sivalingam. That was because the evidence did not show he
had departed Sri Lanka without authorization. The IJ concluded that
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Sivalingam failed to establish he would be persecuted in the future “for his
race, [particular social group], or imputed political opinion.”
These findings do not compel the conclusion that Sivalingam would
be subject to future persecution. See Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. at 483–84.
Moreover, to establish future persecution, Sivalingam needed to
“demonstrat[e] a subjective fear of persecution that is also objectively
reasonable.” Dayo v. Holder, 687 F.3d 653, 658 (5th Cir. 2012). The IJ’s
broad adverse credibility determination, however, makes it impossible for
Sivalingam to establish that he has a subjective fear of future persecution,
because “[i]f none of [a petitioner’s] testimony is taken as credible, then he
[can]not establish a subjective fear of persecution.” Arulnanthy v. Garland, 17
F.4th 586, 597 (5th Cir. 2021) (emphasis in original). Sivalingam therefore
cannot show error in the denial of his asylum claim.
“Because the asylum standard is more lenient than the standard for
withholding of removal,” his failure to establish the requisite “well-founded
fear for asylum eligibility” forecloses his claim for withholding of removal.
Orellana-Monson v. Holder, 685 F.3d 511, 518 (5th Cir. 2012).
II. Convention Against Torture claim
Sivalingam argues that the BIA erred by denying his CAT claim solely
based on the adverse credibility finding. As he did with his asylum claim, he
asserts that his status as a failed asylum seeker is an objective fact that is
unaffected by the adverse credibility finding, and he also mentions his Tamil
ethnicity in conjunction with his status as a failed asylum seeker as other
possible bases to support his CAT claim.
Neither the IJ nor the BIA treated Sivalingam’s credibility as
dispositive. In evaluating the CAT claim, the IJ found that Sivalingam’s
country conditions evidence about the persecution of Tamils was not enough
to establish he would “more likely than not” be tortured upon return. In
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addition, the IJ found that even if Sivalingam were found credible, his
testimony did not show “the requisite level of harm for a grant of protection
under the CAT.” The IJ also addressed Sivalingam’s status as a failed
asylum seeker and concluded he had failed to establish he would be tortured
as a returning asylum seeker.
The BIA, too, did not rely solely on an adverse credibility
determination to affirm the IJ’s order. The BIA explained that Sivalingam
had “not articulated how the documents in the record independently
establish a claim for relief in the face of his lack of credible testimony.” It
then cited Ghotra v. Whitaker, 912 F.3d 284, 290 (5th Cir. 2019), which had
concluded that documentary evidence, including “background reports on
country conditions,” did not corroborate his testimony or independently
support his claims. We interpret the BIA’s citing of Ghotra as informing that
the same failure existed here. The BIA concluded that Sivalingam had not,
leaving aside his not-credible testimony, provided “sufficient corroborating
evidence to independently meet [his] burden of proof.”
In sum, both the BIA and the IJ reviewed Sivalingam’s evidence,
including country conditions evidence, and determined that Sivalingam is
not entitled to CAT relief. Consideration of the record does not compel
another conclusion. See Garcia v. Garland, 28 F.4th 644, 648 (5th Cir. 2022).
Thus, Sivalingam fails to show error in the denial of his CAT claim.
III. Motion for continuance
At a hearing in February 2020, the IJ refused to admit documents that
Sivalingam had filed after the deadline for submission of evidence. Relatedly,
the IJ denied Sivalingam’s motion for a continuance so that the late-filed
documentary evidence could be considered.
Sivalingam challenges the refusal to grant a continuance. Among the
documents he wanted to admit were his mother’s affidavit, which the IJ
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refused to accept because it was filed after the deadline. An IJ “may grant a
motion for continuance for good cause shown.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29. We
review the IJ’s denial of a continuance for abuse of discretion. Ali v. Gonzales,
440 F.3d 678, 680 (5th Cir. 2006).
Sivalingam contends the IJ’s analysis of the request for a continuance
was fatally flawed; he also asserts the BIA should have analyzed his request
for a continuance by using a four-part test from the Ninth Circuit. We do not
consider another circuit’s test because we have our own. “Neither the BIA
nor the IJ abuses its discretion so long as [the decision] is not capricious,
racially invidious, utterly without foundation in the evidence, or otherwise so
aberrational that it is arbitrary rather than the result of any perceptible
rational approach.” Galvez-Vergara v. Gonzales, 484 F.3d 798, 801 (5th Cir.
2007) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
Here, the BIA correctly determined that Sivalingam did not explain in
his brief why he failed to submit the documentary evidence to the
immigration court in a timely manner. Sivalingam’s contention that he did
not provide an explanation to the BIA because the BIA is not a factfinding
body is no justification, as he likewise offered no explanation to the IJ for the
tardy filing. Thus, Sivalingam has not demonstrated an abuse of discretion.
His challenge to the denial of a continuance fails.
IV. Corroboration
Sivalingam next asserts that the BIA erred in its analysis pertaining to
his failure to provide corroborating evidence. The BIA explained that the IJ
identified “several documents not included in the record that she believed
the respondent could have obtained, such as medical records or proof from
his family that the Sri Lankan military continues to look for the respondent.”
Sivalingam argues that the IJ and BIA should not have expected him to
provide corroborating evidence because the record demonstrates such
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evidence is either nonexistent or unavailable. He also emphasizes that his
mother’s affidavit, which was among the late-filed evidence the IJ refused to
accept, establishes that the Sri Lankan armed forces continued to look for
him after he left the country.
“[T]he IJ may require the submission of reasonably available evidence
corroborating a claim for relief from removal,” regardless of the credibility of
the alien’s testimony. Avelar-Oliva v. Barr, 954 F.3d 757, 764 (5th Cir. 2020).
Here, although Sivalingam testified that the medical clinic he visited for
treatment in Sri Lanka did not provide him written documentation of his
visits, the agency’s adverse credibility determination indicates that his
testimony as to the lack of documentation was not credible. “[U]nless the IJ
or the BIA specify otherwise, an adverse credibility finding operates as a
blanket rejection of every piece of testimony the applicant has offered.”
Arulnanthy, 17 F.4th at 596 (emphasis in original). Further, the record shows
that corroboration was available from Sivalingam’s mother, but for
unexplained reasons he did not provide evidence from his mother in a timely
manner. Of some relevance, Sivalingam was served with the notice to appear
on September 5, 2019, then had until February 11, 2020, to submit evidence.
He “has not shown that the record compels the conclusion that corroborating
evidence . . . was unavailable.” Avelar-Oliva, 954 F.3d at 769.
V. Due process
Finally, Sivalingam asserts that his constitutional right to due process
was violated by the existence of auditory and translation problems during his
merits hearing. To prevail on a due process claim, an alien must show
“substantial prejudice.” Toscano-Gil v. Trominski, 210 F.3d 470, 473 (5th
Cir. 2000).
Sivalingam appeared before the IJ by video conference, while the
interpreter participated in the hearing telephonically from a different
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location. At many points in the hearing, Sivalingam expressed difficulty in
understanding the interpreter, or the interpreter indicated that Sivalingam
could not understand what was being said by participants in the hearing.
Additionally, at one point, the interpreter began coughing.
Sivalingam contends that the difficulties with the interpretation
service amounted to a violation of his due process rights. The record reflects
that, when there was a difficulty in understanding, the question or answer
was repeated; further, the interpreter was given a chance to recover from his
coughing spell before the hearing proceeded. There was no due process
violation.
The petition for review is DENIED.
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