Case ID: f-appx_692/html/0421-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Juan CHAPETA-AJTZALAM, AKA Juan Ajtzalam Chapeta, AKA Juan Ajzalam Chapeta, AKA Juan Chapeta, AKA Juan A. Chapeta, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 14-71028
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted May 24, 2017 
    
    Filed June 6, 2017
    Alex Galvez, Counsel, Law Office Alex Galvez, Los Angeles, CA, for Petitioner
    Virginia Gordon, Esquire, Trial Attorney, OIL, DOJ—U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division/Office of Immigration Litigation, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel ICE, Office of the Chief Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent
    Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, and SILVERMAN and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2), Thus, Chapeta-Ajtzalam’s request for oral argument is denied.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Juan Chapeta-Ajtzalam, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, .withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Chapeta-Ajtzalam failed to establish that he was or would be persecuted in Guatemala on account of a protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (“An alien’s desire to be free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a protected ground.”). We reject his contention that the BIA applied an incorrect legal standard. Further, we lack jurisdiction to consider the particular social group Chapeta-Ajtzalam presents for the first time in his opening brief. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004) (petitioner must exhaust claim in administrative proceedings below). Thus, his asylum claim fails.

In this case, because Chapeta-Ajtzalam failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he failed to satisfy the standard for withholding of removal. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).

Finally, substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Chapeta-Ajtzalam failed to establish that it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Guatemala. See Alphonsus v. Holder, 705 F.3d 1031, 1049 (9th Cir. 2013).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.