Court Opinion

ID: 3066006
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-14 22:50:55.274765+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:49:47.870849
License: Public Domain

FILED
                              NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           DEC 02 2014

                                                                         MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ALFREDO QUIEJ GUIX,                              No. 12-72523

               Petitioner,                       Agency No. A070-223-731

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

               Respondent.

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

                             Submitted November 18, 2014**

Before:        LEAVY, FISHER, and N.R. SMITH, Circuit Judges.

       Alfredo Quiej Guix, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review

of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an

immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of

removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have

          *
             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).
jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the

agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir.

2006). We deny the petition for review.

      Quiej Guix testified that guerrillas tried to forcibly recruit him in the 1980s,

and that he continues to fear they will harm him if he returns to Guatemala.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Quiej Guix failed to

establish that guerrillas targeted him on account of a protected ground. See INS v.

Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483 (1992) (whether direct or circumstantial, some

evidence of a persecutor’s motive must be provided to establish eligibility for

asylum); see also Pedro-Mateo v. INS, 224 F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir. 2000) (absent

evidence of some discriminatory purpose, efforts to forcibly recruit the applicant

do not compel a finding of persecution). Quiej Guix does not raise any arguments

in his opening brief regarding the BIA’s findings regarding his proposed social

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

(issues not supported by argument are deemed waived). Substantial evidence also

supports the agency’s finding that Quiej Guix did not establish a well-founded fear

of future persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003)

(possibility of future persecution too speculative). Accordingly, Quiej Guix’s

aslyum claim fails.

                                              2                                 12-72523
      Because Quiej Guix failed to meet the lower burden of proof for asylum, his

claim for withholding of removal necessarily fails. See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1190.

      Finally, substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief

because Quiej Guix failed to establish it is more likely than not that he would be

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

Guatemala. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                          3                                   12-72523