Court Opinion

ID: 3181685
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-03-01 22:05:49.045416+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:28:36.989021
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                         FILED
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                      MAR 1 2016
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

 ERIK WILLIAMS GONON LOPEZ,                       No. 13-73941

              Petitioner,                         Agency No. A072-776-683

    v.
                                                  MEMORANDUM*
 LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,

              Respondent.

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

                            Submitted February 24, 2016**

Before:        LEAVY, FERNANDEZ, and RAWLINSON, Circuit Judges.

         Erik Williams Gonon Lopez, 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 asylum, withholding of

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

         *
             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).
have 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), and we review for abuse of discretion the agency’s denial of a motion for a

continuance, Sandoval-Luna v. Mukasey, 526 F.3d 1243, 1246 (9th Cir. 2008).

We deny the petition for review.

      Gonon Lopez claims past persecution and a fear of future persecution on

account of his membership in a social group defined as his family, and imputed

political opinion. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that

Gonon Lopez did not establish past persecution because his past incidents of

mistreatment do not rise to the level of persecution. See Wakkary v. Holder, 558

F.3d 1049, 1059-60 (9th Cir. 2009) (evidence of a beating, robbery, and mob

threats, even considered cumulatively, did not compel a finding that petitioner

endured harm rising to the level of persecution). We reject Gonon Lopez’s

contention that the agency failed to consider his age and the cumulative effect of

his past mistreatment in Guatemala. Substantial evidence also supports the

agency’s conclusion that Gonon Lopez did not establish a well-founded fear of

future persecution on account of a protected ground. See Parussimova v.

Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir. 2009) (the REAL ID Act “requires that a

                                          2                                  13-73941
protected ground represent ‘one central reason’ for an asylum applicant’s

persecution”). Thus, we deny the petition as to Gonon Lopez’s asylum claim.

      Because Gonon Lopez did not establish eligibility for asylum, his

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

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

Gonon Lopez 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

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

      Finally, the agency did not abuse its discretion in denying Gonon Lopez a

further continuance to pursue a U-visa application. See Sandoval-Luna, 526 F.3d

at 1247 (no abuse of discretion where alternative relief was not immediately

available).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                         3                                  13-73941