NOT FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JOSE LUIS RAMOS-RAMOS, 

Petitioner, 

 v. 

WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General, 

Respondent.

No. 16-71819 

Agency No. A205-975-818 

MEMORANDUM*

On Petition for Review of an Order of the

Board of Immigration Appeals

Submitted November 9, 2020**

Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, TASHIMA, and W. FLETCHER, Circuit Judges.

Jose Luis Ramos-Ramos, a native and citizen of Mexico, 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 relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have

jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the 

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent 

except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.

** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision 

without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

FILED

NOV 16 2020

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
2 16-71819 

agency’s factual findings, including determinations regarding social 

distinction. Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947 F.3d 1238, 1241-42 (9th Cir. 2020). We 

review de novo the legal question of whether a particular social group is 

cognizable, except to the extent that deference is owed to the BIA’s interpretation 

of the governing statutes and regulations. Id. We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Ramos-Ramos

failed to demonstrate the harm he experienced or fears in Mexico was or would be 

on account of his family membership or an imputed political opinion. See Ayala v. 

Holder, 640 F.3d 1095, 1097 (9th Cir. 2011) (even if membership in a particular 

social group is established, an applicant must still show that “persecution was or 

will be on account of his membership in such group”); Barrios v. Holder, 581 F.3d 

849, 856 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding a political opinion claim failed where petitioner 

did not present sufficient evidence of political or ideological opposition to the 

gang’s ideals or that the gang imputed a particular political belief to the petitioner).

The agency did not err in finding that Ramos-Ramos’ gang-related and 

returnee-based proposed social groups are not cognizable. See Reyes v. Lynch, 842 

F.3d 1125, 1131 (9th Cir. 2016) (in order to demonstrate membership in a 

particular social group, “[t]he applicant must ‘establish that the group is (1) 

composed of members who share a common immutable characteristic, (2) defined 

with particularity, and (3) socially distinct within the society in question’” (quoting 
3 16-71819 

Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 227, 237 (BIA 2014))); see also RamirezMunoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1229 (9th Cir. 2016) (concluding that “imputed 

wealthy Americans” returning to Mexico does not constitute a particular social 

group). 

Thus, Ramos-Ramos’ asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

Ramos-Ramos does not challenge the agency’s determination that he failed 

to establish eligibility for CAT relief. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 

1259-60 (9th Cir. 1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s 

opening brief are waived). Thus, we deny the petition for review as to RamosRamos’ CAT claim. 

We reject as unsupported by the record Ramos-Ramos’ contentions that the 

agency ignored evidence or otherwise erred in its analysis of his claims. 

As stated in the court’s August 30, 2016 order, the temporary stay of 

removal remains in place until issuance of the mandate.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.