Samuel Alonzo-morales, Petitioner, v. Immigration and Naturalization Service, Respondent, 116 F.3d 482 (9th Cir. 1997)

MEMORANDUM^* 

Alonzo-Morales petitions for review of a decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals (the "Board"), which denied his application for asylum and concomitant request for withholding of deportation. We must decide whether the Board's determination is supported by substantial evidence. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 (1992). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a) and we deny the petition.

Alonzo-Morales, a native and citizen of Guatemala, testified that shortly before he left Guatemala, a bomb exploded at a bank a few blocks from his place of employment and that he rushed to the scene. He claims that three days later, police officers detained him and accused him of participating in the bombing. The officers then transported him to a "cold room," beat him for approximately three hours, and released him on the condition that he return in three days with the names of his accomplices. He continued to work for three days following the beating and, on the fourth day, left Guatemala for the United States.

The Immigration Judge ("IJ") found Alonzo-Morales' testimony implausible and for that reason concluded that he did not have a well-founded fear of persecution. The Board affirmed the decision of the IJ. It also found Alonzo-Morales' testimony unbelievable, questioning why the police would have released Alonzo-Morales after only three hours and why they would not have watched him during the three-day period following his release and preceding his departure from Guatemala.

Alonzo-Morales argues that the Board should have accepted his testimony because it is consistent with his asylum application. We have, however, already rejected a similar argument. See Saballo-Cortez v. INS, 761 F.2d 1259, 1265 n. 4 (9th Cir. 1985) (argument that the substantial evidence standard requires reversal if INS fails to prove the alien's testimony was internally inconsistent misconceives the deference due the IJ and Board). The Board set forth specific, cogent reasons for rejecting Alonzo-Morales's testimony. Its negative credibility finding is given substantial deference. See Aguilera-Cota v. INS, 914 F.2d 1375, 1381 (9th Cir. 1990). The Board's questions regarding the tactics of the Guatemalan police are reasonable. Accordingly, the petition for review of the Board's decision is DENIED.¹