Court Opinion

ID: 4464710
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-12-16 22:00:40.006174+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:43:57.709174
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       DEC 16 2019
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ISALIA SALAS GARCIA; et al.,                    No.    18-73113

                Petitioners,                    Agency Nos.       A208-602-421
                                                                  A208-602-422
 v.                                                               A208-602-423
                                                                  A208-602-424
WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General,                                A208-602-425

                Respondent.
                                                MEMORANDUM*

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

                          Submitted December 11, 2019**

Before:      WALLACE, CANBY, and TASHIMA, Circuit Judges.

      Isalia Salas Garcia and her four minor children, natives and citizens of

Mexico, petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing

their appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying their application for

asylum, withholding of removal, and relief 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. Garcia-Milian v. Holder, 755 F.3d 1026,

1031 (9th Cir. 2014). We deny the petition for review.

      In their opening brief, petitioners do not meaningfully challenge, and

therefore waive, the agency’s dispositive basis for denying asylum and withholding

of removal. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 1996)

(issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived).

Even if not waived, substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that

petitioners failed to establish that any harm they experienced or fear in Mexico was

or would be on account of a protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d
1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (“An [applicant’s] desire to be free from harassment by

criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus

to a protected ground.”). Thus, petitioners’ asylum and withholding of removal

claims fail.

      We do not reach petitioners’ contentions regarding whether their past harm

rose to the level of persecution. See Recinos De Leon v. Gonzales, 400 F.3d 1185,

1189 (9th Cir. 2005) (“We may affirm the [agency] only on grounds set forth in the

opinion under review.”).

                                          2                                    18-73113
      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because

petitioners failed to show it is more likely than not they will be tortured by or with

the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Mexico. See Aden v.

Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

      In their opening brief, petitioners do not challenge the agency’s denial of

their motion to remand. See Corro-Barragan v. Holder, 718 F.3d 1174, 1177 n.5

(9th Cir. 2013) (failure to contest issue in opening brief resulted in waiver).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                           3                                      18-73113