FIL ED U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S EL EVENTHCI RCUI T NOV 17, 2010 J OHN L EY CL ERK [DO NOT PUBLISH] IN THE U

NITED STATE S COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ No. 1 0- 10 73 7 Non -Arg um en t Ca le nd ar

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Agen cy No. A0 88 -1 47 -5 17 JAIR O JOSUE RAMI REZ-RAMOS , ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pet it io ne r, ve rs us U.S. ATTO RNEY GENERAL, ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Res po nd en t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Pet it io n fo r Rev ie w of aDeci si on of t he Bo ardof I m

m ig rat io n Ap pe al s

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (No ve m be r 17 , 20 10 ) Befo re EDMONDSON, MARTIN an d F AY, Circ ui t J ud ge s. PER CURI AM: Ja iro Jo su e Ram ire z Ram os , a na ti ve an d c it iz enof Gu at em al a p ro ceed in gpr o s e , pet it io ns forrev ie w of t he Bo ardof I m m ig rat io n Ap pe al s’s (“ BIA”) de ci si on affi rm in g t he Im mig rat io n J ud ge ’s (“ IJ ”) fi na l o rd er o f rem ov al an d de nyin g h is ap pl ic at io n fo r as y lu m an d wi th ho ld in g o f rem ov al un de r th e Im m ig rat io n a ndNati on al it y Act (“ INA”) an d re li ef u nd er the Uni te d Nat io ns Co nv en ti on Agai ns t To rtu re an d Othe r Cru el , Inh um an , or Deg rad in g Tre atm en t orPun is hm en t (“ CAT”). On app eal , Ram ire z Ram os arg ue s tha t the BIA erre d i n ru li ng th athi s as y lu m

ap pl ic at io n was un ti m el y be cau se he est ab li sh ed ex tra or di na ry

cir cu m st an ces to ex cu se th e o ne -y ear f il in g d ead li ne . He als o as se rts th athe est ab li sh edpa stpe rs ecu ti on ba se d o n apro te ct edgro un d. He ex pl ai ns th athe an d h is pa ren ts were at ta ck edby gue ril la s b ecau se th ey were Mayan an d b ecau se hi s p aren ts were m em be rs of t he civ il pa tro l. Ramirez Ra m os co nt en ds th atth e cum

ul at iv e m is tre atm en t tha t h is fam il y su ffer edat t he ha nd s o f th e g ue ril la s ro se to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . Fin al ly, Ram ire z Ram os ass ert s t ha t in di ge no us pe rs on s i n Gu at em al a h av e b een th e “ vi ct im s o f brut al to rtu re an d at ta ck s b y

bo th th e g ue ril la s an d t he Guat em al ango ve rn m en t.” Fo r th e rea so ns set fo rth be lo w, we den y

th e p et it io n fo r rev ie w.

I. The Depa rtment o f Hom el an d S ecu rit y in it ia te d re m ov al pro ceed s b y is su in g aNot ic e to App ear t o R am ire z Ram os . The n ot ic e ch arg edth atRam ire z 2Ram os was aGuat em al ancit iz enwho en te redth e Uni te d S ta te s i n 1 99 9 wi th ou t

be in g a dm it te d o r pa ro le d. At an asylu m

he ari ng , Ram ire z Ram os ex pl ai ne d tha t h e le ft Gu at em al a in 19 99 aft er h e was att ack edby a gro up of a rm edm enwhi le walk in g h om e fro m sc ho ol . The m enap pr oa ch edhi m an d a sk edhi m

to bri ng th em

foo d. Aft er h e refu se d t o d o s o, the y

grabb edhi m

by the ne ck , th rew h im

onth e g ro un d, an d pr oc eed edto hi t an d k ic k h im . The at ta ck ers to ldRam ire z Ram os th athe wou ld

“be be at enag ai n a ndev enwors e” i f th ey ev er s aw hi m

ag ai n. Be cau se th e at ta ck ers were wel l-a rm ed , Ram ire z Ram os be li ev edth atth ey were fo rm er gu eri ll as who joi ne d the “ Mar as ” g an gs . Ram ire z Ram os di d n otrece iv e an y m ed ic al att en ti on forhi s i nju rie s. He was 14 y ears ol d a t the ti m e o f th is att ack . Ram ire z Ram os als o t es ti fie d c on cern in g a n e arl ie r in ci de ntth atoc curredin 19 88 . At th e ti m e, hi s m ot he r an d fa th er s erv edinth e ci vi l p atro l, wh ic h p ro te ct ed th e v il la ge fro m

gu eri ll as . One d ay , so m e o f th e g ue ril la s ca m e to th e fam il y ’s ho us e. Ram ire z Ram os ’s m ot he r, si st er, an d b ro th er m an ag edto fle e, bu t Ra m ire z Ram os rem ai ne d i ns id e th e h ou se with h is fathe r. His fathe r was “ba dl y be at en ” by the gu eri ll as be cau se th ey kn ew th athe work edforth e ci vi l p atro l. The gu eri ll as in te nd edto ki ll or k idnap R am ire z Ram os ’s fathe r, bu t the ne ig hb or s sa ve d h im

by sho ot in g a t the gu eri ll as . His f athe r rem ai ne d i n b edfor th ree d ay s 3aft er the att ackbu t d idno t s eekm ed ic al att en ti on . Ram ire z Ram os hi m se lf wa s

no t h arm edby the gu eri ll as . Fo ll owi ng th e 1 98 8 a tt ack , th e fam il y m ov edto an ot he r vi ll ag e. They did no t ex pe rie nc e an y

furth er p ro bl em s wi th th e g ue ril la s u nt il th e 1 99 9 i nc id en t whe re Ram ire z Ram os was b eat en . On cro ss -ex am in at io n, Ra m ire z Ram os ackno wled ge d t ha t h is m ot he r, fathe r, an d s is te r co nt in ue d t o l iv e in Guat em al a an d h adno t b een ha rm edsi nc e h e le ft t he co un try. Inad di ti on to hi s t es ti m on y , Ram ire z Ram os als o s ub m it te d ape rs on al st at em en t an d ade cl arat io n fr om hi s m ot he r. Thes e d oc um en ts were l arg el y co ns is te ntwith h is tes ti m on y at t he he ari ng . In h is st at em en t, Ra m ire z Ram os as se rte d tha t the gu eri ll as “ th reat en edan d abu se d” hi s fa m il y on acco un t o f th ei r Mayan an ces try. H is m ot he r in di cat edth atth e g ue ril la s thr eat en ed , abu se d, an d laug he d a t h er fa m il y

be cau se th ey

were Ma y anan d d idno t kno w ho w to sp eakor readSp an is h. The IJ i ss ue d a n o ral de ci si on de nyin g R am ire z Ram os ’s app li cat io n. Fi rs t, th e IJco nc lu de d t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os ’s asylum ap pl ic at io n was un ti m el y an d t ha t th ere wer e n o e xc ep ti on al cir cu m st an ces th atwou ldex cu se th e la te fil in g. With res pe ctto withh ol di ng of r em ov al , th e IJco nc lu de d t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os ’s te st im on y , alt ho ug h c red ib le , di d n otest ab li sh th athe su ffer edpa stpe rs ecu ti on . 4Inpa rti cu la r, th e IJfou ndth atne it he r th e 1 98 8 a tt ackon Ram ire z Ram os ’s fathe r

no r th e 1 99 9 i nc id en t wer e Ram ire z Ram os was b eat enwere s eri ou s en ou gh to co ns ti tu te pe rs ecu ti on . The IJ als o d et erm in edth atth e 1 99 9 i nc id en t was no t co nn ect edto on e o f th e p ro te ct edgro un ds forwithh ol di ng of r em ov al . The IJ fu rth er co nc lu de d t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os co ul d a vo idan y futur e th reatto hi s l ife or free do m by relo cat in g wi th in Guat em al a. Fin al ly, th e IJde te rm in edth atRam ire z Ram os was n oten ti tl edto CAT rel ie f be cau se he ha d n otin tro du cedan y ev id en ce of pa stto rtu re, an d h adno t s ho wn tha t h e wou ldbe to rtu redby, orwith t he acqui es cen ce o f, th e Gua te m al ango ve rn m en t. Afte r Ram ire z Ram os ap pe al ed , th e BIA af firm edth e IJ ’s dec is io n. Fi rs t, th e BIA co nc lu de d tha t Ra mire z Ram os ’s asylum ap pl ic at io n was ti m e-b arre d. Nex t, the BIA d et erm in edth atRam ire z Ram os was n oten ti tl edto withh ol di ng of rem ov al forth e rea so ns gi ve n b y th e IJ . The BI A con cl ud edth atRam ire z Ram os ha d n otli nk edhi s fe ar o f be in g a tt ack edby gan g m em be rs or f orm er g ue ril la s t o on e o f th e p ro te ct edgro un ds un de r th e INA. In a dd it io n, the BIA o bs erv edth at pe rs ecu ti on is anex tre m e co nc ep t tha t re qu ire s m or e th anm ere h aras sm en t. Ram ire z Ram os no w pet it io ns forrev ie w of t he BIA’s de ci si on . II. As an in it ia l m at te r, th e g ov ern m en t ar gu es th atwe lac k juris di ct io n t o 5rev ie w th e BIA’s fi nd in g t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os ’s asylum ap pl ic at io n was un ti m el y .

W e rev ie w ou r own subjec t m at te r juri sd ic ti on de no vo . Amaya -Art un du ag a v . U.S. Att 'y Gen ., 46 3 F .3d12 47 , 12 50 (11 thCir . 20 06 ). Und er the INA, we lack juri sd ic ti on to rev ie w th e BIA’s d et erm in at io n t ha t an asylu m ap pl ic at io n was no t fil edwithi n t he ap pl ic ab le on e-year de ad li ne . INA § 2 08 (a)( 2) , (a)(3 ), 8 U.S.C. § 1 15 8( a)(2 ), (a)( 3) . Inad di ti on , we m ay no t re vi ew th e ag en cy ’s con cl us io n t ha t th e al ie n fa il edto sh ow ex tra or di na ry cir cu m st an ces th atwou ldex cu se an un ti m el y fil in g. Rui

z v. Go nz al es , 47 9 F .3d76 2, 7 65 (11 th Cir . 20 07 ). Thu s, we l ackjuri sd ic ti onto rev ie w th e BIA’s fi nd in g t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os fai le d t o e st ab li sh ex tra or di na ry cir cu m st an ces to ex cu se th e unt im el y fil in g o f hi s as y lu m ap pl ic at io n. Th eref

or e, we wil l d is m is s the pe ti ti on forrev ie w to th e ex te ntth atitch al le ng es th e d en ia l o f Ram ire z Ram os ’s asylum ap pl ic at io n. W e wil l n ow turn t o t he m eri ts of R am ire z Ram os ’s app li cat io n fo r wit hh ol di ng of rem ov al . III. Whe re, as he re, the BIA is su es it s o wn o pi ni on , we rev ie w on ly the BIA’s de ci si on , exc ep t t o t he ex te ntth atth e BIA ad op ts th e IJ ’s reas on in g. Al Na jj ar v. Ash cr of t , 25 7 F .3d12 62 , 12 84 (11 th Cir . 20 01 ). In t hi s ca se , th e BIA i ss ue d i ts own de ci si on , bu t i t al so in di cat edth atRam ire z Ram os ha d fa il edto est ab li sh 6el ig ib il it y

forwithh ol di ng of r em ov al or t he reas on s g iv enby the IJ. Be cau se th e BIA ad op te d t he IJ’s re as on in g, we ar e rev ie win g b ot h a ge nc y de ci si on s. W e rev ie w th e BIA’s fac tu al fin di ng s t o d et erm in e whe th er the y are supp orte d b y

subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. Ade fe mi v. As hc ro

ft , 38 6 F .3d10 22 , 10 26 -2 7 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 4) ( en ba nc ). Und er the subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce s ta nd ard , “ we vi ew th e reco rdev id en ce i n the li gh t m os t fa vo rab le to th e ag en cy ’s dec is io n a nddra w all reas on ab le in fere nc es infav or of t ha t d eci si on .” Id. at 1 02 7. We m ay rev ers e th e BIA’s fac tu al fin di ng s o nl y when th e rec or d c om

pe ls a rev ers al . Id. To qua li fy

forwithh ol di ng of r em ov al un de r th e INA, anali enm us t s ho w th athi s l ife or f

reed om wou ldbe th reat en edinth e p ro po se d c ou nt ry of r em ov al on acco un t o f rac e, rel ig io n, n at io na li ty, m em be rs hi p i n apa rti cu la r so ci al gro up , or po li ti cal op in io n. INA § 24 1( b) (3 )(A), 8 U.S.C. § 1 23 1( b) (3 )(A). The ali enha s th e b ur de n o f pr ov in g tha t i t i s “ m or e li ke ly than n ot ” th athe wil l b e p ers ecu te d up on returni ng to hi s co un try. Ta n v . U.S. Att 'y Gen . , 44 6 F .3d13 69 , 13 75 (11 th Ci r. 20 06 ). An al ie n app lying forwithh ol di ng of r em ov al m ay sat is fy hi s b ur de n o f pr oo f inon e o f two way s. Ta n , 44 6 F .3dat 1 37 5. Fi rs t, the ali enm ay sh ow tha t he su ffer edpa stpe rs ecu ti on inhi s co un try bas edon a pr ot ect edgro un d. Id. Seco nd , th e al ie n m ay

est ab li sh a fu tu re thr eatto li fe o r free do m by sho win g t ha t i t 7is m or e li ke ly tha n n otth athe wou ldbe pe rs ecu te d upo n re m ov al du e to a

pr ot ect edgro un d. Id. An al ie n m ay est ab li sh a fu tu re thr eatto li fe o r free do m ei th er b y sh owi ng th athe wil l b e si ng le d o utforpe rs ecu ti on ba se d o n apro te ct ed gr ou nd , or b y

de m on st rat in g apa tt ernor p ract ic e o f pe rs ecu ti on inhi s co un try ag ai ns t p ers on s wh o s ha re the same pro te ct edch arac te ris ti c. 8 C.F .R. § 2 08 .16 (b )(2 )(i ) an d (i i). Anali encan no t d em on st rat e a fu tu re thr eatto li fe o r free do m if t he ali encanav oi d t he th reatby relo cat in g t o a no th er p artof t he pr op os edco un try of rem ov al . Ta n , 44 6 F .3dat 1 37 5. Ev id en ce tha t anali en ’s fam il y co nt in ue s t o re si de un ha rm edinth e co un try of rem ov al supp orts a co nc lu si on th ata th reatm ay be av oi de d b y

rel oc at io n. Se e Rui

zv. U.S. Att ’y Gen . , 44 0 F .3d12 47 , 12 59 (11 th Cir . 20 06 ) (ev id en ce tha t p et it io ne r’s so n a ndpa ren ts co nt in ue d t o l iv e in Co lo m bi a co nt rad ic te d h is cla im th athe co ul d n otav oi d pe rs ecu ti on th ro ug h i nt ern al rel oc at io n) . W e h av e ex pl ai ne d tha t “pe rs ecu ti on is anex tre m e co nc ep t, re qu iri ng m or e th ana few i so la te d i nc id en ts of v erb al ha ras sm en t o r in ti m id at io n, an d . . . m ere ha ras sm en t d oe s n otam ou ntto pe rs ecu ti on .” Se pu lv ed a v . U.S. Att ’y Gen ., 40 1 F.3 d 1 22 6, 1 23 1 (1 1t h C ir. 2 00 5) (qu ot at io ns an d a lt erat io n o m it te d) . Brie f de te nt io ns or m in orph y si cal att ack s d o n otris e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . Dia ll o v. U.S. Att ’y Gen . , 59 6 F .3d13 29 , 13 33 (11 th Cir . 20 10 ). In d et erm in in g wh ethe r 8th e al ie n s uf fere d p ers ecu ti on , we exa m in e th e cu m ul at iv e eff

ect s o f al l o f th e in ci de nt s tha t h e d es cri be d. Id . Inth is cas e, subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce s up po rts th e BIA’s fi nd in g t ha t Ra m ire z Ram os fai le d t o d em on st rat e p as t p ers ecu ti onba se d o n apro te ct edgro un d. Fi rs t, with re sp ectto th e 1 99 9 i nc id en t wh ere R am ire z Ram os was b eat enby exgu eri ll as , th e ev id en ce s ho wedth atRam ire z Ram os di d n otrequi re m ed ic al at te nt io n a nddi d n otrece iv e an y las ti ng in juri es . There fo re, the reco rddo es no t co m pe l a f in di ng th atth is in ci de ntros e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . Se e Dia ll o , 59 6 F .3dat 1 33 3. Mo reo ve r, Ram ire z Ram os fai le d t o c on ne ctth e 1 99 9 a tt ackto on e o f th e p ro te ct edgro un ds for withh ol di ng of r em ov al . He in di cat edth e gu eri ll as tar ge te d h im

be cau se he refu se d t o g iv e th em foo d, ra th er tha n b ecau se he was M ay anor b ecau se hi s p aren ts were m em be rs of t he civ il pa tro l. Subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce al so supp orts th e IJ ’s fin di ng th atth e 1 98 8 i nc id en t whe re g ue ril la s at ta ck edRam ire z Ram os ’s fathe r di d n otris e to th e le ve l o f pe rs ecu ti on . Alth ou ghhi s fa th er n eed edto rem ai n i n b edforth ree d ay s, h e d id no t n eedan y

m ed ic al ass is ta nc e. Ther efo re, the reco rddo es no t co m pe l the co nc lu si on th atth e b eat in g was so sev ere a s t o c on st itut e p ers ecu ti on . Se e Dia ll o , 59 6 F .3dat 1 33 3. In ad di ti on , alt ho ug h R am ire z Ram os an d h is m ot he r st at edin th ei r de cl arat io ns th atth e g ue ril la s “ ha ras se d” an d “ ab us ed ” th e fam il y be cau se of 9th ei r Mayan an ces try, the y di d n otde sc rib e an y

sp eci fic in st an ces wher e th e gu eri ll as sp eci fic al ly targ et edth e fam il y be cau se th ey

were Ma y an , and ge ne ral iz edass ert io ns of h aras sm en t ar e in su ffi ci en t t o e st ab li sh pe rs ecu ti on . Se e Se pu lv ed a, 40 1 F .3dat 1 23 1. Als o, s ub st an ti al ev id en ce s up po rts th e BIA’s co nc lu si on th atRam ire z Ram os wil l n otface a fu tu re thr eatto hi s l ife or f reed om if h e returns to Gua te m al a. Ram ire z Ram os tes ti fie d t ha t h is fam il y m em be rs co nt in ue to li ve in Gua te m al a, an d t he y

have no t b een ha rm edsi nc e h e le ft t he co un try in 1 99 9. Bec au se Ram ire z Ram os ’s fam il y m em be rs ha ve co nt in ue d t o s afel y res id e in Gua te m al a, th e rec or d d oe s n otco m pe l the co nc lu si onth atRam ire z Ram os ’s li fe orfree do m

wil l m or e li ke ly tha n n otbe th reat en edif h e is rem ov edto th atco un try. Se e Rui z , 44 0 F .3dat 1 25 9. Fi na ll y , to th e ex te ntth atRam ire z Ram os no w arg ue s tha t the re i s a p at te rn orpra ct ic e o f di sc riminat io n a ga in stMayans inGuat em al a, he fai le d t o ra is e a pa tt ern -o r-p ract ic e cl ai m

be fo re the BIA. Ther efo re, we l ackjuri sd ic ti on to co ns id er tha t ar gu m en t. Se e Amay a- Art un du aga , 46 3 F .3dat 1 25 0 (e xp la in in g th atwe m ay

no t re vi ew cl ai m s t ha t the pe ti ti on er d idno t p res en t t o t he BIA). Acco rd in gl y , th e BIA’s d en ia l o f wit hh ol di ng of r em ov al is supp orte d b y subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. 10IV.

Inhi s i ni ti al bri ef, wh il e Ram ire z Ram os do es no t s pe ci fic al ly m en ti on th e CAT, he d oe s as se rt t ha t i nd ig en ou s p ers on s i n Gu at em al a h av e b eenth e “ vi ct im s of bru ta l t ortu re an d a tt ack s b y bo thth e g ue ril la s an d t he Guat em al an go ve rn m en t.” Th e g ov ern m en t co nt en ds th atRam ire z Ram os ha s wai ve d h is cl ai m forCAT rel ie f be cau se he ha s n otoff eredan y arg um en ts with re sp ectto th at is su e in hi s b rie f. Giv enRam ire z Ram os ’s st atus as a pr o s e li ti ga nt , ho wev er, we wil l co ns tru e h is co m

m en t re ga rd in g t orture as a ch al le ng e to th e ag en cy ’s den ia l of CAT rel ie f. As n ot edab ov e, we rev ie w th e BIA’s fac tu al de te rm in at io ns to de te rm in e whe th er the y

are s up po rte d b y

subs ta nt ia l ev id en ce. Se e Ade fe mi , 38 6 F .3dat 10 26 -2 7. To est ab li sh eli gi bi li ty for CAT rel ie f, th e ap pl ic an t m us t d em on st rat e th atitis m or e li ke ly tha n n otth athe wou ldbe to rtu redif h e is rem ov edto th e de si gn at edco un try of rem ov al . 8 C.F.R. § 20 8.1 6( c)(2 ). Tortur e is de fin edas [A]ny actby whi chsev ere p ai n o r su ffer in g, wh ethe r ph y si cal or m en ta l, i s i nt en ti on al ly infl ic te d o n ape rs on forsu chpu rp os es as ob ta in in g fr om

hi m or h er o r a thi rdpe rs on in fo rm at io n o r a co nf es si on , pu ni sh in g h im

or h er fo r anacthe or s he or ath irdpe rs on ha s co m m it te d o r is su sp ect edof h av in g c omm it te d, o r in ti m id at in g o r co erci ng hi m

or h er o r a thi rdpe rs on , or fo r an y reas on ba se d o n di sc riminat io n o f an y

ki nd , when su chpa in or s uf feri ng is in fli ct edby orat t he in st ig at io n o f orwith t he co ns en t o r acqui es cen ce o f a p ub li c of fic ia l o r ot he r pe rs on act in g i n a n o ffi ci al cap aci ty. 118 C .F.R. § 2 08 .18 (a)( 1) .

Here, Ra mire z Ram os di d n otpre se ntan y ev id en ce tha t h e wou ldbe to rtu redby, orwith t he acqui es cen ce o f, Gua te m al ango ve rn m en t o ffi ci al s. Altho ug h h e as se rts inhi s b rie f th atth e Gua te m al ango ve rn m en t h as be en co m pl ic itinth e to rtu re o f th e in di ge no us po pu la ti on , all of t he ev id en ce o f m is tre atm en t tha t h e p res en te d a t the asylu m he ari ng rel at edto an ti -g ov ern m en t gu eri ll as an d c riminal ga ng s. Th eref or e, th e rec or d d oe s n otco m pe l a c on cl us io n th atRam ire z Ram os wou ldm or e li ke ly tha n n otbe to rtu redby, orwith t he acqui es cen ce o f, go ve rn m en t o ffi ci al s i f he is rem ov edto Guat em al a. Acco rd in gl y , we di sm is s t he pe ti ti on forrev ie w with re sp ectto Ram ire z Ram os ’s asylum cl ai m , andwe de ny the pe ti ti on with re sp ectto hi s cl ai m s fo r withh ol di ng of r em ov al an d C AT reli ef. PETI TI ON DIS MIS SED I N PART, DENIED I N PART.

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