Court Opinion

ID: 5126011
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-15 21:00:46.291058+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:53.808132
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       NOV 15 2021
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

DELFINO JACOBO GOMEZ-                           No.    20-72494
GONZALEZ,
                                                Agency No. A202-054-251
                Petitioner,

 v.                                             MEMORANDUM*

MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

                Respondent.

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

                          Submitted November 8, 2021**

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

      Delfino Jacobo Gomez-Gonzalez, 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 request for a continuance

and his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the

      *
             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).
Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C.

§ 1252. We review for abuse of discretion the denial of a continuance and review

for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Ahmed v. Holder, 569 F.3d

1009, 1012 (9th Cir. 2009). We deny the petition for review.

      The agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Gomez-Gonzalez’s

request for a continuance where he did not demonstrate good cause. See 8 C.F.R. §

1003.29; Ahmed, 569 F.3d at 1012 (listing factors to be considered in determining

whether the denial of a continuance constitutes an abuse of discretion).

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Gomez-

Gonzalez failed to establish the harm he experienced or fears was or would be on

account of a protected ground. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 483

(1992) (an applicant “must provide some evidence of [motive], direct or

circumstantial”); 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,

Gomez-Gonzalez’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

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

Gomez-Gonzalez failed to show it is more likely than not he 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).

                                         2                                    20-72494
     The temporary stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the

mandate.

     PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                       3                                    20-72494