Case ID: f-appx_459/html/0612-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
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Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Victor Manuel CALLES, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
    No. 11-70073.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Nov. 21, 2011.
    
    Filed Nov. 22, 2011.
    Seth L. Reszko, Esquire, Reza Athari & Associates, PLLC A Multi-Jurisdictional Firm, Las Vegas, NV, for Petitioner.
    Lindsay Corliss, Geoffrey Forney, Trial, Daniel Eric Goldman, Esquire, Senior Litigation Counsel, DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel Ice, Office of the Chief Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.
    Before TASHIMA, BERZON, and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2).
    
   MEMORANDUM

Victor Manuel Calles, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ 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”). We have jurisdiction under 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), and we review de novo claims of due process violations, Colmenar v. INS, 210 F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir.2000). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Calles failed to establish past persecution or a fear of future persecution on account of a protected ground. See Ochave v. INS, 254 F.3d 859, 865 (9th Cir.2001) (“Asylum generally is not available to victims of civil strife, unless they are singled out on account of a protected ground.”); Ochoa v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1166, 1172 (9th Cir.2005) (“[T]he record provides no evidence [that the people petitioner feared] imputed political beliefs to [petitioner].”). Accordingly, in the absence of a nexus to a protected ground, Calles’ asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See Ochoa, 406 F.3d at 1172.

Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s findings that Calles was not tortured in the past, and that Calles failed to establish it is more likely than not that he would be tortured with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador. See Santos-Lemus v. Mukasey, 542 F.3d 738, 747-48 (9th Cir.2008). Accordingly, Calles’ CAT claim fails.

Finally, we reject Calles’ due process contention that the agency erred in failing to provide a reasoned explanation for denying his asylum claim because it is belied by the record. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir.2000) (requiring error to prevail on a due process claim).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.