Karen Jilavdaryan v. Eric Holder, Jr. , 549 F. App'x 634 ( 2013 )

FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION DEC 9 2013
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
KAREN JILAVDARYAN, No. 12-71137
Petitioner, Agency No. A200-908-550
v.
MEMORANDUM*
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted November 19, 2013**
Before: CANBY, TROTT, and THOMAS, Circuit Judges.
Karen Jilavdaryan, a native and citizen of Armenia, petitions for review of
the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order (“BIA”) dismissing his appeal from an
immigration judge’s decision denying his application for withholding of removal
and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have
*
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).
jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the
agency’s factual findings, Wakkary v. Holder, 590 F.3d 1034, 1039 (9th Cir. 2010),
and we deny the petition for review.
Jilavdaryan contends he suffered past persecution and has a fear of future
persecution by “Armenian mobsters” who extorted money from him. Substantial
evidence supports the agency’s denial of withholding of removal. See Zetino v.
Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (“An alien’s desire to be free from
harassment by criminals motivated by theft . . . bears no nexus to a protected
ground.”); see also Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir. 2009) (a
protected ground must be at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant).
We reject Jilavdaryan’s contention that the BIA failed to address his arguments,
and also reject his request for a remand.
Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of Jilavdaryan’s CAT
claim because he failed to establish it is more likely than not he would be tortured
by or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official in Armenia. See Silaya
v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
2 12-71137