Jimmy Pisabaj-Mejia v. Loretta E. Lynch

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS APR 26 2016
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
JIMMY BLADIMIRO PISABAJ-MEJIA, No. 13-70106
Petitioner, Agency No. A079-155-359
v.
MEMORANDUM*
LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted April 13, 2016**
Before: FARRIS, TALLMAN, and BYBEE, Circuit Judges.
Jimmy Bladimiro Pisabaj-Mejia, 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 (“IJ”) decision denying his application for
asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against
*
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).
Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for
substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d
1007, 1012 (9th Cir. 2010), and we review de novo questions of law and claims of
due process violations, Montes-Lopez v. Gonzales, 486 F.3d 1163, 1165 (9th Cir.
2007). We deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Pisabaj-Mejia
failed to establish a nexus between the harm he suffered and fears and a protected
ground. See 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,
Pisabaj-Mejia’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See id. at
1015-16.
Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because
Pisabaj-Mejia failed to show it is more likely than not that he would be tortured by
or with the consent or acquiescence of the Guatemalan government if returned.
See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).
Finally, we reject Pisabaj-Mejia’s contention that the BIA committed legal
error in assessing his argument for a continuance for prosecutorial discretion. See
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Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (explaining that a petitioner must
show error and prejudice to prevail on a due process claim); see also Reno v.
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, 525 U.S. 471, 483-85 (1999)
(prosecutorial discretion by the agency can be granted at any stage of the
administrative process). Further, on the parties’ joint request, the case was
referred to this court’s mediation unit to explore the possibility of the exercise of
prosecutorial discretion. Thus, although the parties’ efforts to resolve the matter
did not succeed, Pisabaj-Mejia’s contentions regarding a continuance are moot.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.
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