Court Opinion

ID: 4795802
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-08-20 20:02:31.801524+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:09:57.934985
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION                        FILED
                    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       AUG 20 2021
                                                                      MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
                                                                       U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
                              FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ALFONSO ORTIZ CRUZ,                             No.    19-72177

                Petitioner,                     Agency No. A205-022-864

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

                Respondent.

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

                              Submitted August 17, 2021**

Before:      SILVERMAN, CHRISTEN, and LEE, Circuit Judges.

      Alfonso Ortiz Cruz, a native and citizen of Mexico, 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 withholding of

removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have

      *
             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).
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.

      Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Ortiz Cruz’s

past harm did not rise to the level of persecution. See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399

F.3d 1148, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005) (persecution is an extreme concept); see also

Duran-Rodriguez v. Barr, 918 F.3d 1025, 1028 (9th Cir. 2019) (evidence of threats

did not compel the conclusion that petitioner suffered past persecution); Wakkary

v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1059-60 (9th Cir. 2009) (petitioner’s past experiences,

including two beatings, even considered cumulatively, did not compel a finding of

past persecution). We reject as unsupported by the record Ortiz Cruz’s contentions

that the agency erred in its rise to the level determination.

      Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Ortiz

Cruz did not establish a clear probability of future persecution in Mexico. See

Lanza v. Ashcroft, 389 F.3d 917, 934-35 (9th Cir. 2004) (no clear probability of

future persecution).

      In light of this disposition, we need not reach Ortiz Cruz’s contentions

concerning nexus and cognizability, including whether the IJ made erroneous

factual findings, or that the agency applied an incorrect nexus standard. See

Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 538 (9th Cir. 2004) (courts and agencies are

                                           2                                    19-72177
not required to decide issues unnecessary to the results they reach). We also need

not reach Ortiz Cruz’s contention that the BIA erred in failing to make a relocation

finding. Id.

      Thus, Ortiz Cruz’s withholding of removal claim fails.

      In his counseled opening brief, Ortiz Cruz does not challenge the agency’s

denial of CAT relief. 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).

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

mandate.

      PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

                                          3                                    19-72177