Court Opinion

ID: 9380552
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-03-20 16:00:37.894373+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:17:26.097310
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       MAR 20 2023
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ANASTACIA SALVADOR HERNANDEZ, No.                      20-73151

                Petitioner,                     Agency No. A200-246-988

 v.
                                                MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,

                Respondent.

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

                              Submitted March 14, 2023**

Before:      SILVERMAN, SUNG, and SANCHEZ, Circuit Judges.

      Anastacia Salvador Hernandez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions pro

se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing her

appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her applications for asylum,

withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture

      *
             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).
(“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial

evidence the agency’s factual findings, including determinations regarding social

distinction. Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947 F.3d 1238, 1241-42 (9th Cir. 2020). We

review de novo the legal question of whether a particular social group is

cognizable, except to the extent that deference is owed to the BIA’s interpretation

of the governing statutes and regulations. Id. We deny the petition for review.

      Because Salvador Hernandez does not challenge the agency’s determination

that the asylum application is untimely, we do not address it. See Rios v. Lynch,

807 F.3d 1123, 1125 n.1 (9th Cir. 2015). We do not address Salvador Hernandez’s

contentions as to merits of her asylum claim because the BIA did not deny relief on

these grounds. See Santiago-Rodriguez v. Holder, 657 F.3d 820, 829 (9th Cir.

2011) (“In reviewing the decision of the BIA, we consider only the grounds relied

upon by that agency.” (citation and internal quotation marks omitted)). Thus,

Salvador Hernandez’s asylum claim fails.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Salvador

Hernandez failed to establish her proposed social group is socially distinct. See

Conde Quevedo, 947 F.3d at 1243 (substantial evidence supported the agency’s

determination that petitioner’s proposed social group was not cognizable because

of the absence of society-specific evidence of social distinction). Thus, the BIA

did not err in concluding that Salvador Hernandez did not establish membership in

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a cognizable particular social group. See Reyes v. Lynch, 842 F.3d 1125, 1131 (9th

Cir. 2016) (to demonstrate membership in a particular social group, “[t]he

applicant must ‘establish that the group is (1) composed of members who share a

common immutable characteristic, (2) defined with particularity, and (3) socially

distinct within the society in question’” (quoting Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I. & N.

Dec. 227, 237 (BIA 2014))).

       We do not consider Salvador Hernandez’s newly-raised particular social

group of “Americanized people from Mexico” because the BIA did not decide the

issue, see Santiago-Rodriguez, 657 F.3d at 829, and Salvador Hernandez does not

contend the BIA erred in finding that her proposed particular social group was not

properly before it, see Corro-Barragan v. Holder, 718 F.3d 1174, 1177 n.5 (9th

Cir. 2013) (failure to contest issue in opening brief resulted in forfeiture). We do

not address Salvador Hernandez’s contentions as to whether she suffered harm

rising to the level of persecution, nexus, and whether she could relocate because

the BIA did not deny relief on these grounds. See Santiago-Rodriguez, 657 F.3d at

829.

       Thus, Salvador Hernandez’s withholding of removal claim fails.

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

because Salvador Hernandez failed to show it is more likely than not she will be

tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to

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Mexico. See Aden v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

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

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

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