Court Opinion

ID: 9365316
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-01-23 19:00:34.323879+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:15:42.416765
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        JAN 23 2023
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JOSE OMAR AYALA,                                 No.   18-70020

                Petitioner,                      Agency No. A094-306-704

 v.
                                                 MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

                Respondent.

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

                              Submitted January 18, 2023**

Before:      GRABER, PAEZ, and NGUYEN, Circuit Judges.

      Jose Omar Ayala, a native and citizen of El Salvador, 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 withholding of

removal. Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for

      *
             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).
substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947

F.3d 1238, 1241 (9th Cir. 2020). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition

for review.

      We do not disturb the agency’s determination that Ayala failed to establish

he suffered harm that rises to the level of persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333

F.3d 1012, 1016 (9th Cir. 2003) (persecution is “an extreme concept that does not

include every sort of treatment our society regards as offensive” (internal quotation

marks and citations omitted)); 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 agency’s determination that Ayala failed

to establish he was a member of his proposed particular social group of

“Salvadoran male[s] taking concrete steps to oppose criminal gang membership

and criminal gang authority.” See Reyes v. Lynch, 842 F.3d 1125, 1132 n.3 (9th

Cir. 2016) (applicant must demonstrate “membership in that particular social

group” (quoting Matter of W-G-R-, 26 I. & N. Dec. 208, 223 (BIA 2014))).

      In his opening brief, Ayala does not contend the BIA erred in finding that his

proposed particular social group of “Salvadoran male victims of gangs and gang

violence” was not properly before it, and this issue is waived. See Lopez-Vasquez

v. Holder, 706 F.3d 1072, 1079-80 (9th Cir. 2013) (issues not specifically raised

                                          2                                   18-70020
and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived). Ayala also does not challenge,

and therefore waives, the BIA’s denial of his claims based on proposed particular

social groups comprised of landowners and returnees, nor does he challenge the

BIA’s denial of his claims based on tattoos and general extortion. Id.

      Thus, Ayala’s withholding of removal claim fails.

      To the extent Ayala contends the immigration judge should have granted

him asylum, we lack jurisdiction to consider the contention because he did not

raise it before the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir.

2004) (court lacks jurisdiction to review claims not presented to the agency).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

                                         3                                   18-70020