Edgar Velasquez-Carrillo v. William Barr ( 2020 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAY 8 2020
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
EDGAR ELIAS VELASQUEZ- No. 19-70807
CARRILLO, AKA Edgar Elias Carrillo,
Agency No. A216-268-591
Petitioner,
v. MEMORANDUM*
WILLIAM P. BARR, Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted May 6, 2020**
Pasadena, California
Before: M. SMITH, OWENS, and BRESS, Circuit Judges.
Edgar Elias Velasquez-Carrillo petitions for review of a Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA) decision dismissing his appeal of the denial of his application for
cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the
Convention Against Torture (CAT). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252.
*
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
**
The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.
1. Velasquez-Carrillo seeks cancellation of removal on the ground that his
family relies on him for financial and emotional support. To qualify for cancellation
of removal, an alien must establish that “removal would result in exceptional and
extremely unusual hardship to the alien’s spouse, parent, or child.” 8 U.S.C.
§ 1229b(b)(1)(D). “We lack jurisdiction to review the BIA’s discretionary
determination that an alien failed to satisfy the ‘exceptional and extremely unusual
hardship’ requirement for cancellation of removal.” Romero-Torres v. Ashcroft, 327
F.3d 887, 892 (9th Cir. 2003). The BIA held that Velasquez-Carrillo did not
establish the requisite hardship and we therefore lack jurisdiction to consider this
claim.
2. We review denials of asylum and withholding of removal “for
substantial evidence.” Yali Wang v. Sessions, 861 F.3d 1003, 1007 (9th Cir. 2017)
(citation omitted). “Under the substantial evidence standard, the court upholds the
BIA’s determination unless the evidence in the record compels a contrary
conclusion.” Arteaga v. Mukasey, 511 F.3d 940, 944 (9th Cir. 2007). The BIA’s
legal determinations are reviewed de novo. Edu v. Holder, 624 F.3d 1137, 1142 (9th
Cir. 2010).
Velasquez-Carrillo seeks asylum and argues that his untimely application for
such relief should be excused because he did not know he had to file within one year
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of his arrival. See 8 U.S.C. § 1158(a)(2)(B) (establishing one-year deadline for
asylum applications). If an applicant fails timely to file his asylum application, he
must demonstrate “either the existence of changed circumstances which materially
affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating
to the delay.” Id. § 1158(a)(2)(D). Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s
determination that Velasquez-Carrillo’s ignorance of the law did not constitute an
extraordinary circumstance. See, e.g., Antonio-Martinez v. I.N.S., 317 F.3d 1089,
1093 (9th Cir. 2003).
3. Velasquez-Carrillo seeks withholding of removal on the ground that his
life or freedom would be threatened in his native Guatemala based on his
membership in two “particular social group[s].” 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A). Among
other requirements, an applicant for withholding of removal based on “membership
in a particular social group” must demonstrate that the group is “defined with
particularity.” Reyes v. Lynch, 842 F.3d 1125, 1131 (9th Cir. 2016) (citation
omitted). This means the group must be “defined by characteristics that provide a
clear benchmark for determining who falls within the group,” must be “discrete and
have definable boundaries,” and cannot be “amorphous, overbroad, diffuse, or
subjective.” Id. at 1139 n.11 (quoting Matter of M–E–V–G–, 26 I. & N. Dec. 227,
239 (BIA 2014)).
Velasquez-Carrillo’s first proposed social group consists of “Guatemalan
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youth who resisted and rejected membership in a gang based on his own personal
moral and religious opposition to the gang’s value[s] and activities.” Here,
Velasquez-Carrillo claims that he implicitly argued persecution based on “political
opinion,” a separate ground for withholding of removal, 8 U.S.C. § 1231(b)(3)(A),
because he refused to join Mara 18 for “political and religious” reasons. Substantial
evidence supports the BIA’s conclusion that Velasquez-Carrillo did not demonstrate
persecution on account of his political opinion. Based on Velasquez-Carrillo’s
testimony, Mara 18 recruited “all the young people” in Velasquez-Carrillo’s village;
nothing suggests Mara 18 targeted Velasquez-Carrillo because of his political
beliefs.
Velasquez-Carrillo’s second proposed social group is defined as
“individual[s] returning to Guatemala after living many years in the United States
and who may be perceived as wealthy.” Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s
conclusion that this proposed social group lacks particularity. We have rejected
groups consisting of returnees to a country as lacking particularity. See, e.g.,
Delgado-Ortiz v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1148, 1150 (9th Cir. 2010) (per curiam)
(rejecting a proposed social group of “returning Mexicans from the United States”).
Velasquez-Carrillo’s attempt to limit this group to those that arrived in the United
States as children is unavailing. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s decision
that such a group is still overbroad, in that it would include individuals with “a
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plethora of different lifestyles, varying interests, diverse cultures, and contrary
political leanings.” Id. (citation omitted).
4. We likewise reject Velasquez-Carrillo’s challenge to the BIA’s
dismissal of his CAT claim. An alien is entitled to CAT protection if he
demonstrates that it is more likely than not that he would be tortured “at the
instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person
acting in an official capacity” if removed. 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1). Substantial
evidence supports the BIA’s conclusion that Velasquez-Carrillo failed to make this
showing. For example, the BIA cited the immigration judge’s finding that the
Guatemalan government has taken steps to address gang violence.
5. Finally, Velasquez-Carrillo argues he was not properly advised of the
requirement to post bond in support of the immigration judge’s grant of voluntary
departure. Because he did not raise this argument to the BIA, we lack jurisdiction
to consider it. 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); Sola v. Holder, 720 F.3d 1134, 1135 (9th Cir.
2013) (per curiam).
We have carefully considered Velasquez-Carrillo’s other arguments and
conclude they are without merit. We also deny as moot Velasquez-Carrillo’s
motions for stay of removal.
PETITION DENIED IN PART AND DISMISSED IN PART.
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