USCA11 Case: 21-14064 Date Filed: 07/15/2022 Page: 1 of 13 [DO NOT PUBLISH] In the United States Court of Appeals For the Eleventh Circuit ____________________ No. 21-14064 Non-Argument Calendar ____________________ MARIA EMMA SALMERON-HERNANDEZ, CARLOS DAVID SALMERON-HERNANDEZ, ELVIN AARON SALMERON-HERNANDEZ, Petitioners, versus U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, Respondent. ____________________ Petition for Review of a Decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals Agency No. A209-082-694 ____________________ USCA11 Case: 21-14064 Date Filed: 07/15/2022 Page: 2 of 13 2 Opinion of the Court 21-14064 Before ROSENBAUM, BRASHER, and HULL, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM: Maria Salmeron-Hernandez and her two children, 1 through counsel, seek review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA”) final order affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of their application for asylum. On appeal, Salmeron-Hernandez argues that the BIA erred by finding: (1) death threats made against her by an international criminal gang, Mara Salvatrucha-13 (“MS-13”), did not amount to persecution; and (2) no nexus existed between the death threats against her and a protected ground. After review, we deny the petition for review. I. BACKGROUND A. Removability In 2016, Salmeron-Hernandez, a native and citizen of El Salvador, entered the United States without valid entry documents and without inspection. She was accompanied by her two minor children, Carlos and Elvin, who are also natives and citizens of El Salvador. 1Although the agency assigned separate application numbers to Salmeron- Hernandez’s two children, Carlos and Elvin, and they are listed as separate petitioners now before us, she listed them as derivative applicants on her application. USCA11 Case: 21-14064 Date Filed: 07/15/2022 Page: 3 of 13 21-14064 Opinion of the Court 3 The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) charged Salmeron-Hernandez and her children with removability under, inter alia, INA § 212(a)(6)(A)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(A)(i) for being a noncitizen present in the United States without being admitted or paroled. Salmeron-Hernandez conceded removability under that provision. In April 2017, Salmeron-Hernandez applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (“CAT”).2 Salmeron- Hernandez claimed that she suffered past persecution and feared future persecution on account of two protected grounds: (1) her membership in two particular social groups, namely her familial relationship with her son and her status as a single woman perceived not to have protection; and (2) her anti-gang political opinion. B. Persecution Evidence According to Salmeron-Hernandez’s application and her testimony at her removal hearing, her son was approached by a classmate multiple times in April 2016 about joining MS-13, offering him a gun and $200. On April 15, 2016, the classmate told 2 Salmeron-Hernandez’s petition in this Court does not challenge the denial of withholding of removal or CAT relief, so she has abandoned those issues. See Sepulveda v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 401 F.3d 1226, 1228 n.2 (11th Cir. 2005). USCA11 Case: 21-14064 Date Filed: 07/15/2022 Page: 4 of 13 4 Opinion of the Court 21-14064 Salmeron-Hernandez’s son that MS-13 would kill his mother if he did not join the gang. Three …
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