Court Opinion

ID: 6318133
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-02-28 21:01:59.059869+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:34.854432
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        FEB 28 2022
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ERVIN ZAQUITAL-CANIZ, AKA Ervin                 No.    16-70431
Marcelino Tzaquital-Caniz,
                                                Agency No. A078-912-591
                Petitioner,

 v.                                             MEMORANDUM*

MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

                Respondent.

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

                          Submitted February 15, 2022**

Before:      FERNANDEZ, TASHIMA, and FRIEDLAND, Circuit Judges.

      Ervin Zaquital-Caniz, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review

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

immigration judge’s decision denying his application for withholding of removal

and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is

      *
             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).
governed by 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 in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that the harm

Zaquital-Caniz experienced in Guatemala did not rise to the level of persecution.

See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399 F.3d 1148, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005) (persecution is an

extreme concept); see also Duran-Rodriguez v. Barr, 918 F.3d 1025, 1028 (9th

Cir. 2019) (evidence of threats did not compel the conclusion that petitioner

suffered past persecution). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s

determination that Zaquital-Caniz did not establish a clear probability of future

persecution in Guatemala. See Lanza v. Ashcroft, 389 F.3d 917, 934-35 (9th Cir.

2004) (no clear probability of future persecution).

      In his opening brief, Zaquital-Caniz does not raise, and therefore waives,

any challenge to the agency’s determination that he failed to establish eligibility

for withholding of removal based on his indigenous race. 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).

      Thus, Zaquital-Caniz’s withholding of removal claim fails.

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

Zaquital-Caniz failed to show it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or

                                          2                                     16-70431
with the consent or acquiescence of the government if he returned to Guatemala.

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

      To the extent Zaquital-Caniz seeks to contend the agency violated his right

to due process, his briefing does not sufficiently present the issues for our review.

See Sekiya v. Gates, 508 F.3d 1198, 1200 (9th Cir. 2007) (“Bare assertions . . .

unaccompanied by analysis and completely devoid of caselaw fall far short of the

requirement that counsel present appellant’s contentions and the reasons for them.”

(citation and internal quotation marks omitted)).

      The temporary stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the

mandate.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

                                          3                                    16-70431