Ediberto Alvarez-Lopez v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS APR 15 2015 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT EDIBERTO ALVAREZ-LOPEZ, AKA No. 08-73168 Edilberto Cornelio Alvarez-Lopez, Agency No. A098-389-712 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 7, 2015** Before: FISHER, TALLMAN, and NGUYEN, Circuit Judges. Ediberto Alvarez-Lopez, 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 Torture * 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). (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the IJ’s factual findings, Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir. 2009), 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 IJ’s finding that Alvarez-Lopez’s past experiences in Guatemala with gang members did not rise to the level of persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1016-18 (9th Cir. 2003) (record did not compel finding of past persecution); see also Prasad v. INS, 47 F.3d 336, 340 (9th Cir. 1995) (“Although a reasonable factfinder could have found [these incidents constituted] past persecution, we do not believe that a factfinder would be compelled to do so.”) Substantial evidence also supports the IJ’s finding that Alvarez-Lopez failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution. See Nagoulko, 333 F.3d at 1018 (fear of future harm is too speculative). In light of these conclusions, we reject Alvarez-Lopez’s due process contention regarding his political opinion. See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (requiring prejudice to prevail on a due process challenge). Thus, Alvarez- Lopez’s asylum claim fails. 2 08-73168 Because Alvarez-Lopez’s failed to establish eligibility for asylum, his withholding of removal claim necessarily fails. See Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1190 (9th Cir. 2006). Finally, Alvarez-Lopez does not make any specific arguments challenging the IJ’s denial of his CAT claim. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 1996) (issues not supported by argument are deemed abandoned). PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 3 08-73168