FILED United States Court of Appeals UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS Tenth Circuit FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT March 24, 2021 _________________________________ Christopher M. Wolpert Clerk of Court GEOVANNI RAMBERTO RAMIREZ- TEJADA, Petitioner, v. No. 20-9576 (Petition for Review) MERRICK GARLAND, Attorney General of the United States, Respondent. _________________________________ ORDER AND JUDGMENT** _________________________________ Before MATHESON, BRISCOE, and CARSON, Circuit Judges. _________________________________ Geovanni Ramberto Ramirez-Tejada (“Petitioner”) petitions for review from the Board of Immigration Appeals’s (“BIA’s”) denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Petitioner is not On March 11, 2021, Merrick Garland became Attorney General of the United States. Consequently, his name has been substituted for William P. Barr as Respondent, per Fed. R. App. P. 43(c)(2). ** After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist in the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2); 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1. entitled to asylum or withholding of removal because he has not shown a nexus between his membership in a particular social group and his fear of persecution. Further, the BIA’s denial of CAT relief is supported by substantial evidence. Accordingly, exercising jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, we DENY the petition for review. I. Background Petitioner is a native and citizen of El Salvador. In 2014, members of the MS-13 gang kidnapped, assaulted, and ransomed Petitioner in El Salvador. After his release, Petitioner spoke with a Salvadoran police officer. The Salvadoran police organized a sting operation with Petitioner’s assistance. The sting operation led to the arrest of one of the gang members, whom Petitioner identified as one of his kidnappers. After the sting operation, MS-13 gang members sought out and threatened Petitioner, calling him a “rat” and threatening to “torture and dismember him.” AR at 57. Petitioner moved several times within El Salvador but continued to receive threats from MS-13 gang members. Petitioner also informed the Salvadoran police about these threats but was told that the police lacked the resources to follow up on his case; the police also recommended that Petitioner leave El Salvador. Petitioner fled El Salvador and entered the United States without valid entry documents. Petitioner received a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings. Petitioner admitted the factual allegations and conceded the charge contained in the Notice to Appear. He also applied for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under 2 CAT. Following a hearing, an Immigration Judge (“IJ”) denied Petitioner’s application for relief and ordered Petitioner removed to El Salvador. Petitioner timely appealed to the BIA. The BIA affirmed the IJ’s decision. Petitioner then filed a timely petition for review in this court. Petitioner presents …
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