Case Name: Luis ARENAS-LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-03-21
Citations: 683 F. App'x 648
Docket Number: No. 13-74125
Parties: Luis ARENAS-LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: Before: WALLACE, McKEOWN, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 683
Pages: 648–649

Head Matter:
Luis ARENAS-LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. Jefferson B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 13-74125
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted March 17, 2017 San Francisco, California
Filed March 21, 2017
Luis Arenas-Lopez, Pro Se
Liza Murcia, Attorney, Anthony Cardozo Pasme, Senior Litigation Counsel, Kathleen Kelly Volkert, 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, Raya Jarawan, Esquire, Trial Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent
Before: WALLACE, McKEOWN, and BYBEE, 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
Luis Arenas-Lopez appeals from the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") determination that Arenas-Lopez failed to meet his burden of proof for deferral under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT") and affirmance of the Immigration Judge's ("U") decision to deny Arenas-Lopez's motion to continue. We review factual findings for substantial evidence and legal questions de novo. Ridore v. Holder, 696 F.3d 907, 911 (9th Cir. 2012) (citations omitted). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We deny the petition.
To prove eligibility for withholding of removal under CAT, Arenas-Lopez must establish that it is "more likely than not that he . would be tortured if removed" to Mexico. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(c)(2). The torture must be inflicted "by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official." Id. § 1208.18(a)(1). Substantial evidence supports the Board's decision. Arenas-Lopez, as a former police officer, did not present evidence that "similarly-situated individuals" are subject to torture in Mexico. Blandino-Medina v. Holder, 712 F.3d 1338, 1348 (9th Cir. 2013). Nor did he present evidence that his suggested chain of events (i.e., that he would be recognized nearly twelve years later, the cartels would recruit him, he would refuse, and they would punish him for so refusing) is more than speculation. See id. (affirming the denial of CAT relief when petitioner relied on "a series of worst-case scenarios").
Because Arenas-Lopez is convicted of a qualifying offense, we are limited to re viewing his other claim for legal or constitutional error. 8 C.F.R. § 1252(a)(2)(D); Brezilien v. Holder, 569 F.3d 403, 410 (9th Cir. 2009). To the extent Arenas-Lopez raises due process challenges to the denial of his motion to continue his hearing, they fail. Although Arenas-Lopez was not able to submit his supporting documentation by the hearing date, the IJ allowed him to submit those documents within one week of the hearing. Additionally, Arenas-Lopez asserts that his wife's testimony would have "corroborate[d] the kidnapping and torture of the petitioner as well as the extent of his injuries." Since the Board accepted as true Arenas-Lopez's allegations of previous torture, Arenas-Lopez was not prejudiced because his wife did not testify. Colmenar v. Immigration & Naturalization Serv., 210 F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir. 2000).
PETITION DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.