Case Name: Ismael PALMA-BALBUENA, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-08-14
Citations: 695 F. App'x 230
Docket Number: No. 14-70887
Parties: Ismael PALMA-BALBUENA, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: Before: SCHROEDER, TASHIMA, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 695
Pages: 230–231

Head Matter:
Ismael PALMA-BALBUENA, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 14-70887
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted August 9, 2017
Filed August 14, 2017
Michael J. Tisocco, Esquire, Attorney, Tisocco Immigration PLLC, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner
OIL, Andrea Gevas, 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: SCHROEDER, TASHIMA, and M. SMITH, Circuit Judges.
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).

Opinion:
MEMORANDUM
Ismael Palma-Balbuena, a native and citizen of Mexico, 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 relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review questions of law de novo, Cerezo v. Mukasey, 512 F.3d 1163, 1166 (9th Cir. 2008), except to the extent that deference is owed to the BIA's determination of the governing statutes and regulations, Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 535 (9th Cir. 2004). We review for substantial evidence the agency's factual findings. Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir. 2008). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.
We do not consider the supplemental documents and related factual assertions referenced by Palma-Balbuena in his opening and reply briefs. See Fisher v. INS, 79 F.3d 955, 963 (9th Cir. 1996) (en banc) (the court's review is limited to the administrative record).
The record does not compel the conclusion that Palma-Balbuena established either extraordinary circumstances or changed circumstances materially affecting his eligibility for asylum to excuse his untimely application. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4), (5); Fakhry v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1057, 1063 (9th Cir. 2008) (changed circumstances must materially affect applicant's eligibility for asylum and eligibility "is established by demonstrating 'persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of [a protected ground]"') (internal citation omitted). We reject his contentions that the agency did not consider evidence or applied an incorrect legal standard. Thus, we deny the petition for review as to asylum.
Substantial evidence supports the agency's conclusion that the 2005 altercation in a store and Palma-Balbuena's related fear of future harm were not on account of a protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010); Molina-Morales v. INS, 237 F.3d 1048, 1051-52 (9th Cir. 2001) (personal dispute not grounds for relief where it is unconnected to a protected ground). Substantial evidence also supports the agency's finding that Palma-Balbuena did not establish it is more likely than not he would be harmed as a member of his family, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992) (applicant must provide some evidence of motive, direct or circumstantial), or based on his status as a person returning from the United States, see Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1228-29 (9th Cir. 2016); see also Zetino, 622 F.3d at 1016. We reject his contentions that the agency erred in analyzing his claim. Further, we lack jurisdiction to consider his contentions regarding Mexican transport operators because Palma-Balbuena did not raise them to the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004). Thus, his withholding of removal claim fails.
Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency's denial of Palma-Balbuena's CAT claim because he did not establish it is more likely than not he would be tortured if returned to Mexico. See Silaya, 524 F.3d at 1073. We reject his contention that the agency applied an incorrect legal standard.
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.