Court Opinion

ID: 3148811
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 21:01:22.490395+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:10:22.127812
License: Public Domain

FILED
                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION                            OCT 22 2015

                                                                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ESTEBAN LEON-JUAN, AKA Juan Leon                 No. 13-71895
Esteban,
                                                 Agency No. A205-317-884
               Petitioner,

 v.                                              MEMORANDUM*

LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,

               Respondent.

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

                             Submitted October 14, 2015**

Before:        SILVERMAN, BYBEE, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.

      Esteban Leon-Juan, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions pro se for

review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) 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”).

          *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
          **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial

evidence the agency’s factual findings, Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070

(9th Cir. 2008), and we review de novo due process challenges, Zetino v. Holder,

622 F.3d 1007, 1011-12 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny in part and dismiss in part the

petition for review.

         The record does not compel the conclusion that Leon-Juan established

changed circumstances to excuse the untimely filing of his asylum application. See

8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4). Thus, we deny the petition as to Leon-Juan’s asylum

claim.

         Leon-Juan did not suffer harm in Guatemala, but expressed fear of crime if

he returns. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Leon-Juan

failed to show it is more likely than not that he will be persecuted on account of a

protected ground. See Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740-41 (9th Cir.

2009) (protected ground must be “at least one central reason” for persecution);

Zetino, 622 F.3d at 1016 (“desire to be free from harassment by criminals

motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a

protected ground”). We lack jurisdiction to review Leon-Juan’s assertion

regarding corruption of government security forces, because he did not raise this

                                           2                                    13-71895
claim to the agency. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir. 2004).

Thus, Leon-Juan’s withholding of removal claim fails.

      Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s denial of CAT relief, because

Leon-Juan failed to demonstrate it is more likely than not he would be tortured by

or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official in Guatemala. See Silaya,

524 F.3d at 1073.

      We lack jurisdiction to consider Leon-Juan’s contention regarding

cancellation of removal, because he did not file an application for cancellation of

removal before the agency. See Barron, 358 F.3d at 677-78.

      Finally, we reject Leon-Juan’s due process contention. See Lata v. INS, 204

F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (requiring error to prevail on a due process claim).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

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