Saul Vargas v. Merrick Garland


NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS APR 23 2021 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT SAUL MANDUJANO VARGAS, Nos. 19-71645 20-70802 Petitioner, Agency No. A200-247-039 v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney MEMORANDUM* General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of Orders of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted April 20, 2021** Before: THOMAS, Chief Judge, TASHIMA and SILVERMAN, Circuit Judges. Saul Mandujano Vargas, 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 decision denying his application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”) (petition No. 19-71645) * 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). and the BIA’s order denying his motion to reopen and remand removal proceedings (petition No. 20-70802). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We review de novo claims of due process violations in immigration proceedings. Padilla-Martinez v. Holder, 770 F.3d 825, 830 (9th Cir. 2014). We review for abuse of discretion the BIA’s denial of a motion to reopen and remand. Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005). We deny in part and dismiss in part petition No. 19-71645. We deny petition No. 20-70802. As to petition No. 19-71645, substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Mandujano Vargas failed to establish the harm he experienced or fears was or would be on account of a protected ground. See Ayala v. Holder, 640 F.3d 1095, 1097 (9th Cir. 2011) (even if membership in a particular social group is established, an applicant must still show that “persecution was or will be on account of his membership in such group”); Sagaydak v. Gonzales, 405 F.3d 1035, 1042 (9th Cir. 2005) (to establish a nexus to a political opinion, petitioner must show “(1) that [he] had either an affirmative or imputed political opinion, and (2) that [he was] targeted on account of that opinion.”); 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 2 20-70802 bears no nexus to a protected ground”). We lack jurisdiction to consider Mandujano Vargas’ contentions concerning the cognizability of a returnee-based particular social group and a pattern or practice of persecution in Mexico. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004) (court lacks jurisdiction to consider claims not raised to agency). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because Mandujano Vargas failed to show it is more likely than not he will be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government …

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