Reynoso-Ortega v. Holder , 381 F. App'x 652 ( 2010 )

FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION JUN 02 2010
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
ANTENOR HERMAN REYNOSO- No. 05-77264
ORTEGA,
Agency No. A29-191-929
Petitioner,
v. MEMORANDUM *
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted May 6, 2010
Pasadena, California
Before: O’SCANNLAIN and TALLMAN, Circuit Judges, and BLOCK, **
District Judge.
Antenor Reynoso-Ortega (“Petitioner”), a citizen of Peru, petitions for
review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) dismissing his
appeal of an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his application for asylum,
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
**
The Honorable Frederic Block, Senior United States District Judge for
the Eastern District of New York, sitting by designation.
withholding of removal, protection under the United Nations Convention Against
Torture (“the CAT”), suspension of deportation, and voluntary departure. We have
jurisdiction, 8 U.S.C. § 1252, and review for substantial evidence. INS v. Elias-
Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n.1 (1992).
Petitioner claimed that he had been persecuted by Sendero Luminoso, a/k/a
“Shining Path.” The BIA’s conclusion that Petitioner was not credible is supported
by substantial evidence. Petitioner’s 2004 testimony to the IJ was directly contrary
to his 1994 testimony to the asylum officer, and the discrepancy went to the heart
of his claim. Regardless of his credibility, Petitioner’s asylum claim also fails
because he did not demonstrate that he was targeted by Shining Path on account of
a protected ground; his service in the Peruvian Army does not qualify. Cruz-
Navarro v. INS, 232 F.3d 1024, 1029 (9th Cir. 2000). In light of this disposition,
we have no need to address whether Petitioner was properly classified as a
persecutor, barring him from asylum relief. 8 U.S.C. § 1158(b)(2)(A)(i).
Since he cannot establish eligibility for asylum, it necessarily follows that
Petitioner cannot meet the higher standard for withholding of removal. Cruz-
Navarro, 232 F.3d at 1031.
As to Petitioner’s claim under the CAT, the record contains no evidence that
Shining Path operates with the acquiescence of the Peruvian government. Zheng v.
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Ashcroft, 332 F.3d 1186, 1196 (9th Cir. 2003) (noting that acquiescence may be
established by showing a government’s “willful blindness to the torture of [its]
citizens by third parties”). Accordingly, Petitioner failed to demonstrate eligibility
for relief under the CAT.
Because Petitioner raises no colorable constitutional claim or question of
law, we lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s discretionary decision to deny
suspension of deportation and voluntary departure. Mendez-Castro v. Mukasey,
552 F.3d 975, 978 (9th Cir. 2009).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.
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