Court Opinion

ID: 6331848
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-04-14 20:00:27.884296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:23:15.170612
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       APR 14 2022
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

NESTOR BLADIMIR AQUINO-MORAN,                   No.    16-70993

                Petitioner,                     Agency No. A087-718-943

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

                Respondent.

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

                              Submitted April 11, 2022**

Before:      McKEOWN, CHRISTEN, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.

      Nestor Bladimir Aquino-Moran, a native and citizen of El Salvador,

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

      *
             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).
Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 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 dismiss in part and deny in part the

petition for review.

      In his opening brief, Aquino-Moran does not contest the BIA’s conclusion

that he waived any challenge to the IJ’s determination that his asylum application

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

2013) (concluding petitioner waived challenge to issue not specifically raised and

argued in his opening brief). We lack jurisdiction to consider Aquino-Moran’s

contentions as to the merits of an asylum claim because he did not raise them to the

agency. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004) (stating that

the court lacks jurisdiction to review claims not presented to the agency). Thus,

Aquino-Moran’s asylum claim fails.

      As to withholding of removal, Aquino-Moran does not raise, and therefore

also waives, any challenge to the BIA’s dispositive conclusion that he failed to

establish membership in a cognizable particular social group. See Lopez-Vasquez,

706 F.3d at 1079-80. Thus, Aquino-Moran’s withholding of removal claim fails.

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

Aquino-Moran failed to show it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or

with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador. See

                                         2                                   16-70993
Aden v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

      We reject Aquino-Moran’s remaining contentions of legal or due process

error as unsupported by the record.

      The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the issuance of the

mandate.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.

                                        3                                  16-70993