Baltazar Avalos v. Jefferson Sessions


NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS NOV 21 2017 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT BALTAZAR AVALOS, No. 12-74094 Petitioner, Agency No. A094-179-097 v. MEMORANDUM* JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted November 15, 2017** Before: CANBY, TROTT, and GRABER, Circuit Judges. Baltazar Avalos, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ orders dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decisions denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture * 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). (“CAT”), Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”), cancellation of removal, and special rule cancellation under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (“NACARA”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s findings of fact, and review de novo constitutional claims and questions of law. Khan v. Holder, 584 F.3d 773, 776 (9th Cir. 2009). We deny in part, dismiss in part, and grant in part the petition for review, and we remand. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Avalos failed to establish that the harm he fears in El Salvador is on account of a protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (petitioner’s “desire to be free from . . . random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a protected ground.”). Thus, Avalos’ asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s CAT denial because Avalos failed to establish that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008). We lack jurisdiction to consider Avalos’ contentions as to the agency’s discretionary determination pertaining to his cancellation of removal claim, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i); see also Vilchez v. Holder, 682 F.3d 1195, 1201 (9th 2 12-74094 Cir. 2012), and Avalos does not raise a colorable constitutional claim or question of law which this court may review, see Martinez-Rosas v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir. 2005) (court retains jurisdiction to review due process challenges but must allege at least a colorable constitutional violation). We also lack jurisdiction to review the agency’s denial of Avalos’ NACARA special rule cancellation claim. See Lanuza v. Holder, 597 F.3d 970, 972 (9th Cir. 2010) (the IIRIRA “expressly precludes” review of eligibility decisions under NACARA). We reject Avalos’ contention that the agency committed reversible error by addressing the government’s motion for reconsideration, see Kumar v. Gonzales, 439 F.3d 520, 523-24 (9th Cir. 2006) (noting that violation of agency regulations reviewed ...

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