594 F. App'x 351

Jose Simeon CHICAS, Petitioner, v. Eric H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General, Respondent.

No. 10-70434.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Submitted Feb. 17, 2015.*

Filed Feb. 24, 2015.

Jose Simeon Chicas, Seattle, WA, pro se.

*352Peter Hurtado, Seattle, WA, for Petitioner.

Lauren Fascett, Oil, David V. Bernal, Assistant Director, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, Chief Counsel Ice, Office of the Chief Counsel Department of Homeland Security, San Francisco, CA, for Respondent.

Before: O’SCANNLAIN, LEAVY, and FERNANDEZ, Circuit Judges.

MEMORANDUM **

Jose Simeon Chicas, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings, Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir.2006), and we review de novo claims of due process violations, Colmenar v. INS, 210 F.3d 967, 971 (9th Cir.2000). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Chicas failed to establish he suffered past persecution. See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399 F.3d 1148, 1153-54 (9th Cir.2005) (threats did not compel finding of past persecution where the petitioner never had a personal confrontation with the people threatening him). Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s determination that Chicas failed to establish his fear of future harm from a criminal who Chicas shot is on account of a protected ground. See Grava v. INS, 205 F.3d 1177, 1181 n. 3 (9th Cir.2000) (“[pjurely personal retribution” is not persecution on account of a protected ground). In light of this conclusion, we need not reach the BIA’s findings regarding Chi-cas’s proposed social group. Thus, Chi-cas’s asylum claim fails.

Because Chicas did not meet the lower burden of proof for asylum, his withholding of removal claim necessarily fails. See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1190.

Further, substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of CAT relief because Chicas failed to demonstrate it is more likely than not he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir.2008).

Finally, we reject Chicas’s due process contentions that the BIA erred and/or failed to evaluate his arguments. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir.2000) (requiring prejudice to prevail on a due process claim).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

Chicas v. Holder
594 F. App'x 351

Case Details

Name
Chicas v. Holder
Decision Date
Feb 24, 2015
Citations

594 F. App'x 351

Jurisdiction
United States

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