Court Opinion

ID: 9926166
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-01-23 22:00:47.81856+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:22:07.682423
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                          FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                        JAN 23 2024
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ERICK ALEXANDER RAMOS                           No. 23-696
BONILLA; et al.,                                Agency Nos.
                                                A209-830-705
             Petitioners,                       A209-437-997
                                                A209-830-706
 v.
                                                A209-437-998
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,                                        MEMORANDUM*

             Respondent.

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

                            Submitted January 17, 2024**

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

      Erick Alexander Ramos Bonilla, his wife, and their two minor children,

natives and citizens of El Salvador, petition pro se for review of the Board of

Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing their appeal from an immigration judge’s

      *
             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).
decision denying their request for a continuance and their applications for asylum,

withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture

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

discretion the denial of a continuance and review for substantial evidence the

agency’s factual findings. Ahmed v. Holder, 569 F.3d 1009, 1012 (9th Cir. 2009).

We deny the petition for review.

      The agency did not abuse its discretion in denying petitioners’ request for a

continuance where they did not demonstrate good cause. See id. (factors

considered in reviewing the denial of a continuance); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29.

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

establish they suffered harm that rises to the level of persecution. See

Baghdasaryan v. Holder, 592 F.3d 1018, 1023 (9th Cir. 2010) (applicant who

alleges past persecution has burden of proving that the treatment rises to the level

of 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 agency’s determination that petitioners

failed to establish they would be persecuted on account of a family-based

particular social group or a political opinion. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S.

478, 483 (1992) (an applicant “must provide some evidence of [motive], direct or

                                        2                                    23-696
circumstantial”); Barrios v. Holder, 581 F.3d 849, 856 (9th Cir. 2009) (political

opinion claim rejected where petitioner did not present sufficient evidence of

political or ideological opposition to the gang’s ideals or that the gang imputed a

particular political belief to the petitioner); see also Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d

1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (an applicant’s “desire to be free from harassment by

criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus

to a protected ground”).

      Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that

petitioners failed to establish an objectively reasonable fear of future persecution

on account of their membership in a particular social group of “women in El

Salvador.” See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003) (possibility

of future persecution “too speculative”). Further, on this record, petitioners failed

to establish a pattern or practice of persecution of women in El Salvador. See

Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1060-62 (9th Cir. 2009) (discussion of the

standard for establishing a pattern or practice of persecution).

      Thus, petitioners’ asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See

Barajas-Romero v. Lynch, 846 F.3d 351, 359-60 (9th Cir. 2017).

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of CAT protection

because petitioners failed to show it is more likely than not they will be tortured by

                                         3                                     23-696
or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador.

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

      Petitioners’ contentions regarding ineffective assistance of counsel are not

properly before the court because they failed to raise them before the BIA. See

8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1) (exhaustion of administrative remedies required); see also

Santos-Zacaria v. Garland, 598 U.S. 411, 417-19 (2023) (section 1252(d)(1) is a

non-jurisdictional claim-processing rule); Puga v. Chertoff, 488 F.3d 812, 815-16

(9th Cir. 2007) (ineffective assistance of counsel claims must be raised in a motion

to reopen before the BIA).

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

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                        4                                   23-696