Court Opinion

ID: 9865474
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 18:00:38.499286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:48:33.961424
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                          FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        SEP 25 2023
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

MARLENE ARALY SANTIAGO REYES,                   No. 22-1439
                                                Agency No.
             Petitioner,                        A212-975-927
 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

             Respondent.

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

                           Submitted September 12, 2023**

Before:      CANBY, CALLAHAN, and OWENS, Circuit Judges.

      Marlene Araly Santiago Reyes, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions

pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing her

appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her applications for asylum,

withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture

      *
             This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
      **
             The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
(“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial

evidence the agency’s factual findings. Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947 F.3d 1238,

1241 (9th Cir. 2020). We deny the petition for review.

      We do not disturb the agency’s determination that Santiago Reyes failed to

establish she suffered harm that rises to the level of persecution. See Wakkary v.

Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1059-60 (9th Cir. 2009) (petitioner’s past experiences,

including two beatings, even considered cumulatively, did not compel a finding of

past persecution); see also Flores Molina v. Garland, 37 F.4th 626, 633 n.2 (9th

Cir. 2022) (court need not resolve whether de novo or substantial evidence review

applies, where result would be the same under either standard). Substantial

evidence supports the conclusion that Santiago Reyes failed to establish a

reasonable possibility of future persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012,

1018 (9th Cir. 2003) (possibility of future persecution “too speculative”).

      Because Santiago Reyes failed to establish eligibility for asylum, she failed

to satisfy the standard for withholding of removal. See Villegas Sanchez v.

Garland, 990 F.3d 1173, 1183 (9th Cir. 2021).

      In light of this disposition, we need not reach Santiago Reyes’s remaining

contentions regarding the merits of her claims. See Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d

532, 538 (9th Cir. 2004) (courts and agencies are not required to decide issues

unnecessary to the results they reach).

                                          2                                   22-1439
      Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT protection

because Santiago Reyes failed to show it is more likely than not she will be

tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to

Guatemala. See Aden v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

      The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the mandate issues.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                       3                                   22-1439