Opinion
No. 17-70670
08-25-2020
ORLANDO VELASQUEZ GARCIA, Petitioner, v. WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General, Respondent.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Agency No. A073-986-839 MEMORANDUM On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted June 5, 2020 Pasadena, California Before: CALLAHAN and IKUTA, Circuit Judges, and BENCIVENGO, District Judge.
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).
The Honorable Cathy Ann Bencivengo, United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, sitting by designation. --------
Orlando Velasquez Garcia, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) order affirming the immigration judge's denial of asylum, cancellation of removal, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(1).
In a concurrently filed opinion, we hold that perjury under section 118(a) of the California Penal Code is an "offense relating to . . . perjury" and is thus an "aggravated felony." 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(S). Velasquez was convicted under section 118(a), and therefore the BIA did not err in holding that he was ineligible for asylum, see 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii), (B)(i), and cancellation of removal, see 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a)(3).
Substantial evidence supports the BIA's denial of withholding of removal because the record does not compel the conclusion that the proposed social group of adult males returning to Guatemala who are perceived as wealthy is "socially distinct," see Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1229 (9th Cir. 2016), nor does it compel the conclusion that gang members will target Velasquez based on the mistaken belief that he is returning to Guatemala to take revenge for threats and extortion of his mother, see Hakeem v. I.N.S., 273 F.3d 812, 816 (9th Cir. 2001).
Finally, substantial evidence supports the BIA's denial of CAT protection. The record does not compel the conclusion that it is more likely than not that Velasquez will be tortured in Guatemala. His general concern about crime and violence in Guatemala is insufficient for protection under CAT, see Delgado-Ortiz v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1148, 1152 (9th Cir. 2010), and his mother and siblings continue to live safely in Guatemala, making his predictions of torture speculative, see Blandino-Medina v. Holder, 712 F.3d 1338, 1348 (9th Cir. 2013).
PETITION DENIED.