Opinion
No. 13-72114
10-26-2015
ALVARO DENIS VARGAS-PALACIOS, Petitioner, v. LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General, Respondent.
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
Agency No. A028-645-487 MEMORANDUM On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Before: SILVERMAN, BERZON, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
Alvaro Denis Vargas-Palacios, a native and citizen of Nicaragua, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' ("BIA") order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge's ("IJ") decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law, Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009), and we review for substantial evidence the agency's factual findings, Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir. 2008), and we deny the petition for review.
The record does not compel the conclusion that Vargas-Palacios' untimely asylum application is excused by changed or extraordinary circumstances. See 8 C.F.R. §§ 1208.4(a)(4), (5); see also Ramadan v. Gonzales, 479 F.3d 646, 657-58 (9th Cir. 2007) (per curiam). We reject Vargas-Palacios' contention that the IJ failed to develop the record on this issue. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (requiring error to prevail on a due process challenge).
As to withholding of removal, substantial evidence supports the BIA's determination that Vargas-Palacios' experiences in Nicaragua did not rise to the level of persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1016-18 (9th Cir. 2003) (record did not compel finding of past persecution). Substantial evidence also supports the agency's finding that Vargas-Palacios failed to establish it was more likely than not that he would be persecuted if returned to Nicaragua. See id. at 1018 (future persecution too speculative). Thus, Vargas-Palacios' withholding of removal claim fails.
In addition, substantial evidence supports the agency's denial of CAT relief because Vargas-Palacios failed to establish it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government of Nicaragua if returned. See Silaya, 524 F.3d at 1073.
Finally, the record does not support Vargas-Palacios' contention that he did not voluntarily and knowingly waive the right to counsel. See Hernandez-Gil v. Gonzales, 476 F.3d 803, 808 (9th Cir. 2007).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.