Court Opinion

ID: 4525730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-15 20:00:42.308743+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:15:20.098353
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                         FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        APR 15 2020
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

MENOS FLORESTAL,                                No.    19-70974

                Petitioner,                     Agency No. A206-271-937

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General,

                Respondent.

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

                               Submitted April 7, 2020**

Before:      TASHIMA, BYBEE, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.

      Menos Florestal, a native and citizen of Haiti, petitions for review of the

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

immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for asylum,

withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).

We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence

      *
             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).
the agency’s factual findings, applying the standards governing adverse credibility

determinations created by the REAL ID Act. Shrestha v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034,

1039-40 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny the petition for review.

      In his opening brief, Florestal does not contend that the BIA erred in its

determination that he waived any challenge to the IJ’s finding that asylum was

time barred, see Lopez-Vasquez v. Holder, 706 F.3d 1072, 1079-80 (9th Cir. 2013)

(issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived),

and we do not consider Florestal’s contentions as to the merits of his asylum claim,

see Santiago-Rodriguez v. Holder, 657 F.3d 820, 829 (9th Cir. 2011) (review

limited to the grounds relied on by the BIA). Thus, Florestal’s asylum claim fails.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s adverse credibility determination

based on inconsistencies between Florestal’s testimony, declaration, and

documentary evidence. See Shrestha, 590 F.3d at 1048 (adverse credibility

determination reasonable under “the totality of circumstances”). Florestal’s

explanations do not compel a contrary conclusion. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241,

1245 (9th Cir. 2000). Florestal fails to challenge the agency’s finding that the

documentary evidence did not independently establish his eligibility for

withholding of removal. See Lopez-Vasquez, 706 F.3d at 1079-80. Thus,

Florestal’s withholding of removal claim fails.

      Finally, Florestal does not contend that the BIA erred in its determination

                                          2                                    19-70974
that he waived any challenge to the IJ’s denial of CAT relief. See id. Thus, we

deny the petition for review as to CAT.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                          3                                 19-70974