Case Name: Melva Aracely GALINDO-MONTEPEQUE and Raul Estuardo Galindo-Reyna, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2011-06-23
Citations: 439 F. App'x 641
Docket Number: No. 09-71612
Parties: Melva Aracely GALINDO-MONTEPEQUE and Raul Estuardo Galindo-Reyna, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 439
Pages: 641–642

Head Matter:
Melva Aracely GALINDO-MONTEPEQUE and Raul Estuardo Galindo-Reyna, Petitioners, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.
No. 09-71612.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted June 15, 2011.
Filed June 23, 2011.
Michael John Selph, Esquire, Law Offices of Michael J. Selph, North Hollywood, CA, for Petitioners.
Ronald E. Lefevre, Office of the District Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, Ann M. Welhaf, DOJ-U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
Before: CANBY, O’SCANNLAIN, and FISHER, 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
Melva Aracely Galindo-Montepeque, and her son Raul Estuardo Galindo Reyna, whose petition is derivative, are natives and citizens of Guatemala, and they petition for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals, dismissing their appeal from the immigration judge's denial of their applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT").
Galindo-Montepeque contends that the BIA erred in denying her asylum and withholding applications because she established past persecution through the cumulative incidents of theft and violence by gang members against her, and because of her membership in a social group comprised of single-parent families. Galindo-Montepeque also contends that she was entitled to relief under CAT because gang members acted with the acquiescence of the Guatemalan government.
Substantial evidence supports the agency's finding that Galindo-Montepeque failed to establish that she was targeted because of her membership in any social group, and failed to establish a nexus to any other protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir.2010) ("[a]n alien's desire to be free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a protected ground.") Because Galindo-Montepeque did not establish a nexus to a protected ground, her asylum claim fails. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 482-83, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). Because petitioner did not establish eligibility for asy lum, it follows that she did not satisfy the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir.2006). Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency's denial of petitioner's request for CAT relief because Galindo-Montepeque failed to show that it was more likely than not that she will be tortured by or with the acquiescence of the Guatemalan government. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir.2008).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.