Court Opinion

ID: 3172331
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-26 21:01:03.74884+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:01:13.925181
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                          FILED
                     UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       JAN 26 2016
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ELIAS AVILA-GUZMAN,                              No. 13-74256

             Petitioner,                         Agency No. A098-448-343

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

             Respondent.

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

                            Submitted January 20, 2016**

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

        Elias Avila-Guzman, a native and citizen of Mexico, 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

        *
             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). We deny the petition for review.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that the harm

Avila-Guzman suffered in Mexico did not rise to the level of persecution, see

Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1182 (9th Cir. 2003) (lifetime of harassment

and one incident of violence did not compel a finding of past persecution), and the

agency’s determination that he failed to establish a well-founded fear of future

persecution, see Castro-Martinez v. Holder, 674 F.3d 1073, 1081 (9th Cir. 2011)

(petitioner’s statement that he did not seek police protection, without more, was

insufficient to establish the government was unable or unwilling to control his

attackers). Thus, Avila-Guzman’s asylum claim fails.

      Because petitioner failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily

cannot meet the more stringent standard for withholding of removal. See Zehatye,
453 F.3d at 1190.

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

because Avila-Guzman failed to show it is more likely than not that he would be

tortured by the Mexican government, or with its consent or acquiescence. See

                                          2                                   13-74256
Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                        3                 13-74256