Court Opinion

ID: 621435
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-01-25 01:03:52+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:50:56.736960
License: Public Domain

FILED
                             NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             JAN 24 2012

                                                                        MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS

                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JESUS MENJIVAR MONTOYA,                          No. 08-73667

               Petitioner,                       Agency No. A072-112-044

  v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM *
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,

               Respondent.

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

                             Submitted January 17, 2012 **

Before:        LEAVY, TALLMAN, and CALLAHAN, Circuit Judges.

       Jesus Menjivar Montoya, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for

review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an

immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum,

withholding of removal, relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”), and

          *
             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).
cancellation of removal. Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We

review for substantial evidence factual findings, Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d

1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006), and we review de novo due process claims,

Vasquez-Zavala v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 1105, 1107 (9th Cir. 2003). We deny in part

and dismiss in part the petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s finding that the threats directed

at Menjivar Montoya did not rise to the level of past persecution. See Lim v. INS,

224 F.3d 929, 936 (9th Cir. 2000). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s

finding that Menjivar Montoya failed to establish a well-founded fear of future

persecution because he failed to demonstrate a specific threat to him now that the

guerrillas and the government are no longer at war. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d

1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003).

      Because Menjivar Montoya failed to meet the lower burden of proof for

asylum, it follows he has not met the higher standard for withholding of removal.

See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1190.

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

Menjivar Montoya failed to establish it is more likely than not he will be tortured

by or with the acquiescence of the government of El Salvador. See Silaya v.

Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).

                                           2                                   08-73667
      Finally, we lack jurisdiction to review the agency’s discretionary

determination that Menjivar Montoya failed to demonstrate exceptional and

extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying relative in support of his application for

cancellation of removal. See Martinez-Rosas v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 926, 929-30

(9th Cir. 2005). We also lack jurisdiction to consider Menjivar Montoya’s non-

colorable due process challenge to that denial. See id.; DeMercado v. Mukasey,

566 F.3d 810, 816 (9th Cir. 2009) (concluding no jurisdiction over a similar

fundamental right to “family unity” due process contention).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

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