Carlos Gonzalez-Erazo v. Eric Holder, Jr. , 431 F. App'x 533 ( 2011 )


Menu:
  •                                                                            FILED
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION                             MAY 03 2011
    MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
    UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS                       U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
    FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
    CARLOS ENRIQUE GONZALEZ-                         No. 10-71240
    ERAZO,
    Agency No. A070-938-508
    Petitioner,
    v.                                             MEMORANDUM *
    ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
    Respondent.
    On Petition for Review of an Order of the
    Board of Immigration Appeals
    Submitted April 20, 2011 **
    Before: RYMER, THOMAS, and PAEZ, Circuit Judges.
    Carlos Enrique Gonzalez-Erazo, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions
    pro se for review of the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals, denying his
    *
    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).
    applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention
    Against Torture.
    We have jurisdiction under 
    8 U.S.C. § 1252
    . We review for substantial
    evidence and will uphold the agency’s determination unless the evidence compels
    a contrary conclusion. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 
    502 U.S. 478
    , 481 (1992). We
    deny the petition for review.
    Gonzalez-Erazo contends that he suffered past persecution when guerrillas
    threatened him, and he fears future persecution from gangs. Petitioner testified that
    he was not harmed by the guerillas. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s
    determination that petitioner failed to establish past persecution. See Lim v. INS,
    
    224 F.3d 929
    , 936 (9th Cir. 2000). In addition, petitioner’s speculative fear of
    future gang activity and persecution does not serve as a basis for asylum relief. See
    Santos-Lemus v. Mukasey, 
    542 F.3d 738
    , 745-46 (9th Cir. 2008).
    Because Gonzalez-Erazo failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he
    necessarily failed to meet the more stringent standard for withholding of removal.
    See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 
    453 F.3d 1182
    , 1190 (9th Cir. 2006).
    Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because
    petitioner did not establish that it was more likely than not that he will be tortured
    by or with the acquiescence of the Guatemalan government. See Silaya v.
    2                                     10-71240
    Mukasey, 
    524 F.3d 1066
    , 1073 (9th Cir. 2008). Contrary to Gonzalez-Erazo’s
    contention, the BIA provided a sufficient explanation for denying CAT relief.
    We lack jurisdiction to consider Gonzalez-Erazo’s claim that he should be
    granted asylum based on humanitarian reasons because he failed to raise that issue
    before the BIA, and thereby failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. See
    Barron v. Ashcroft, 
    358 F.3d 674
    , 678 (9th Cir. 2004).
    PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.
    3                                   10-71240