Case: 20-60658 Document: 00515893099 Page: 1 Date Filed: 06/09/2021 United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit FILED No. 20-60658 June 9, 2021 Summary Calendar Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Jose Alberto Hercules, also known as Jose Hercules Guillen, Petitioner, versus Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General, Respondent. Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals BIA No. A095 068 455 Before Barksdale, Graves, and Oldham, Circuit Judges. Per Curiam:* Jose Alberto Hercules, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) dismissing his appeal of an immigration judge’s (IJ) denial of withholding of removal and relief * Pursuant to 5th Circuit Rule 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Circuit Rule 47.5.4. Case: 20-60658 Document: 00515893099 Page: 2 Date Filed: 06/09/2021 No. 20-60658 under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Although Hercules also sought voluntary departure, he does not challenge its denial, and any such claim is deemed abandoned. See Soadjede v. Ashcroft, 324 F.3d 830, 833 (5th Cir. 2003). In considering the BIA’s decision (and the IJ’s, to the extent it influenced the BIA), questions of law are reviewed de novo; factual findings, for substantial evidence. E.g., Orellana-Monson v. Holder, 685 F.3d 511, 517– 18 (5th Cir. 2012). Whether an applicant is eligible for withholding of removal or relief under CAT is a factual finding which, as noted above, is reviewed for substantial evidence. See Chen v. Gonzales, 470 F.3d 1131, 1134 (5th Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). Under that standard, the BIA’s factual findings are conclusive unless the record compels a contrary finding. Wang v. Holder, 569 F.3d 531, 536–37 (5th Cir. 2009). First, Hercules contends the BIA erred in determining he failed to allege a cognizable particular social group (PSG) for purposes of his withholding-of-removal claim. “To be eligible for withholding of removal, an applicant must demonstrate a clear probability of persecution upon return” on account of a statutorily protected ground, such as his membership in a PSG. Roy v. Ashcroft, 389 F.3d 132, 138 (5th Cir. 2004) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The BIA correctly concluded Hercules’ originally proposed PSG, “Salvadoran men who fear violence and delinquency in their home country”, was not a cognizable PSG because it was circularly defined by the feared persecution. See Gonzales-Veliz v. Barr, 938 F.3d 219, 232 (5th Cir. 2019). Although Hercules attempted to allege a new PSG before the BIA, “Salvadoran males”, the BIA declined to consider that PSG because it was not presented to the IJ. Such a ruling does not constitute reversible error. See Cantarero Lagos v. Barr, 924 F.3d 145, 151 (5th Cir. 2019). 2 Case: 20-60658 Document: 00515893099 Page: 3 Date Filed: 06/09/2021 No. 20-60658 In addition, Hercules maintains his hearing testimony presented an additional PSG: individuals deported from the United States, who would be perceived by gang members …
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