Court Opinion

ID: 9891801
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-10-19 18:00:40.784028+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:00:34.705388
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                           FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       OCT 19 2023
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

OSVALDO ALEXANDER CANIZ TAX,                    No. 22-714
                                                Agency No.
             Petitioner,                        A208-584-322
 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

             Respondent.

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

                           Submitted October 10, 2023**

Before:      S.R. THOMAS, McKEOWN, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.

      Osvaldo Alexander Caniz Tax, 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 applications 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 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).
have jurisdiction under 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 the petition for review.

      We do not disturb the agency’s determination that Caniz Tax failed to

establish he suffered harm that rises to the level of persecution. See Duran-

Rodriguez v. Barr, 918 F.3d 1025, 1028 (9th Cir. 2019) (threats alone rarely

constitute persecution); see also Flores Molina v. Garland, 37 F.4th 626, 633 n.2

(9th Cir. 2022) (court need not resolve whether de novo or substantial evidence

review applies, where result would be the same under either standard). Substantial

evidence supports the conclusion that Caniz Tax failed to establish a reasonable

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

Cir. 2003) (possibility of future persecution “too speculative”). Thus, Caniz Tax’s

asylum claim fails.

      Because Caniz Tax failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he failed to

satisfy the standard for withholding of removal. See Villegas Sanchez v. Garland,

990 F.3d 1173, 1183 (9th Cir. 2021).

      Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT protection

because Caniz Tax 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                                    22-714
      We decline to reach Caniz Tax’s contentions that were raised for the first

time in his reply brief. See Bazuaye v. INS, 79 F.3d 118, 120 (9th Cir. 1996)

(“Issues raised for the first time in the reply brief are waived.”).

      The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the mandate issues.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                          3                                22-714