Court Opinion

ID: 9372119
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-02-17 21:00:28.693374+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:32.908135
License: Public Domain

USCA4 Appeal: 22-1501      Doc: 26         Filed: 02/16/2023    Pg: 1 of 2

                                            UNPUBLISHED

                               UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                                   FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                              No. 22-1501

        CESAR JAVIER MERAZ-GONZALEZ,

                            Petitioner,

                     v.

        MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General,

                            Respondent.

        On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals.

        Submitted: January 30, 2023                                  Decided: February 16, 2023

        Before AGEE and HEYTENS, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge.

        Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

        ON BRIEF: Ronald D. Richey, LAW OFFICE OF RONALD D. RICHEY, Rockville,
        Maryland, for Petitioner. Brian Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General,
        Keith I. McManus, Assistant Director, Spencer S. Shucard, Trial Attorney, Office of
        Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
        Washington, D.C., for Respondent.

        Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
USCA4 Appeal: 22-1501       Doc: 26          Filed: 02/16/2023      Pg: 2 of 2

        PER CURIAM:

               Cesar Javier Meraz-Gonzalez, a native and citizen of Honduras, petitions for review

        of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) dismissing his appeal from the

        Immigration Judge’s decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal,

        and protection under the Convention Against Torture. We have thoroughly reviewed the

        record and conclude that the evidence does not compel a ruling contrary to any of the

        administrative factual findings, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B), and that substantial evidence

        supports the denial of relief, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 (1992).

        Accordingly, we deny the petition for review. ∗ We dispense with oral argument because

        the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court

        and argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                                 PETITION DENIED

               ∗
                 Because the Immigration Judge presided over the merits hearing and issued the
        order of removal from the immigration court in Fort Worth, Texas, venue was proper in
        the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Herrera-Alcala v. Garland, 39 F.4th 233, 241-
        43 (4th Cir. 2022) (under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b), venue depends on location of immigration
        judge). We conclude that transfer to that circuit court would not be in the interest of justice.
        See Sorcia v. Holder, 643 F.3d 117, 123-24 (4th Cir. 2011).

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