Opinion
20-70904
06-10-2022
REY DAVID CABRERA-PUAC, AKA David Cabrera, AKA Rey David Cabrera, AKA Cabrera David Estrada, Petitioner, v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General, Respondent.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Submitted June 2, 2022[**]
On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Agency No. A206-407-210
Before: SILVERMAN, KOH, and SANCHEZ, Circuit Judges.
MEMORANDUM [*]
Rey David Cabrera-Puac, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT").
Cabrera-Puac does not challenge the agency's denial of his asylum application as untimely.
We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency's factual findings. Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947 F.3d 1238, 1241 (9th Cir. 2020). We deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency's conclusion that Cabrera-Puac failed to demonstrate past persecution or a clear probability of future persecution on account of a protected ground. See, e.g., Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1016 (9th Cir. 2003) ("Persecution . . . is an extreme concept that does not include every sort of treatment our society regards as offensive.") (citation and internal quotation marks omitted); 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 bears no nexus to a protected ground"). Thus, Cabrera-Puac's withholding of removal claim fails.
Because Cabrera-Puac's failure to demonstrate a nexus to a protected ground is dispositive, we do not reach his argument that he belongs to a cognizable particular social group. "As a general rule courts and agencies are not required to make findings on issues the decision of which is unnecessary to the results they reach." Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 538 (9th Cir. 2004) (internal citation omitted).
Substantial evidence supports the agency's denial of CAT protection because Cabrera-Puac failed to show it is more likely than not he will be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Guatemala. See Aden v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).
The temporary stay of removal remains in place until issuance of the mandate.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
[*] 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).