GASPAR MENDEZ ORTIZ V. LORETTA E. LYNCH, No. 13-72900 (9th Cir. 2015)
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FILED DEC 15 2015 NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT GASPAR MENDEZ ORTIZ, Petitioner, No. 13-72900 Agency No. A073-751-784 v. MEMORANDUM* LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Submitted December 9, 2015** Before: WALLACE, RAWLINSON, and IKUTA, Circuit Judges. Gaspar Mendez Ortiz, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for withholding of removal and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings and we review de novo questions of law. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009). We deny the petition for review. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s finding that Mendez Ortiz’s experiences in Guatemala, where he once heard gunshots and Awakatecos threw rocks at him one time and pushed him in a market another time, did not rise to the level of persecution. See id. at 1059-60 (record did not compel a finding of past persecution where applicant was beaten and robbed twice, and accosted by threatening mobs); Hoxha v. Ashcroft, 319 F.3d 1179, 1182 (9th Cir. 2003) (harassment, threats, and one beating did not compel a finding of past persecution). Further, substantial evidence supports the agency’s finding as to future persecution where Mendez Ortiz failed to demonstrate sufficient individualized risk that it is more likely than not that he would be persecuted if he returned to Guatemala. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003) (possibility of persecution “too speculative”); see also Wakkary, 558 F.3d at 1066 (“[a]n applicant for withholding of removal will need to adduce a considerably larger quantum of individualized-risk evidence to prevail than would an asylum applicant”). We reject Mendez Ortiz’s contention that the BIA’s analysis was inadequate and incomplete. Thus, Mendez Ortiz’s withholding of removal claim fails. 2 13-72900 Finally, substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because Mendez Ortiz failed to establish it is more likely than not that he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Guatemala. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008); see also Alphonsus v. Holder, 705 F.3d 1031, 1049-50 (9th Cir. 2013) (portions of country reports contradicted petitioner’s claim). PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 3 13-72900
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