NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 23 2021
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
MIGUEL EFRAIN PERALTA ESTRADA, No. 19-72811
Petitioner, Agency No. A099-826-431
v.
MEMORANDUM*
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted March 16, 2021**
Before: GRABER, R. NELSON, and HUNSAKER, Circuit Judges.
Miguel Efrain Peralta Estrada, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions pro
se 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 relief under the Convention Against Torture
*
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).
(“CAT”), and the BIA’s order denying his motion to terminate proceedings. Our
jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence
the agency’s factual findings. Garcia-Milian v. Holder, 755 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th
Cir. 2014). We review de novo questions of law. Bhattarai v. Lynch, 835 F.3d
1037, 1042 (9th Cir. 2016). We dismiss in part, deny in part, grant in part, and we
remand the petition for review.
We lack jurisdiction over Peralta Estrada’s contention that the IJ failed to
serve as an impartial adjudicator because he did not raise this claim before the
BIA. See De Mercado v. Mukasey, 566 F.3d 810, 815 n.4 (9th Cir. 2009)
(concluding the court lacked jurisdiction to review petitioner’s claim that the IJ
failed to serve as an impartial adjudicator and denied petitioner a full and fair
hearing because it was not raised to the BIA).
In his opening brief, Peralta Estrada does not raise any challenge to the
BIA’s denial of his motion to terminate or the BIA’s determination that his
conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana under 8 U.S.C.
§§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vii) was a particularly serious crime, barring him from
asylum and withholding of removal. See Lopez-Vasquez v. Holder, 706 F.3d 1072,
1079-80 (9th Cir. 2013) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s
opening brief are waived). Thus, Peralta Estrada’s asylum and withholding of
removal claims fail.
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As to deferral of removal under CAT, the agency misstated Peralta Estrada’s
testimony as to the police officers’ conduct in failing to protect him. Specifically,
the IJ’s findings that “there is no indication whatsoever that the Mexican police . . .
in any way have not taken any actions to protect [Peralta Estrada]” and that the
police “have done nothing to indicate that they would in any way shirk their duties
to protect [Peralta Estrada] if he were to go to Mexico” are contrary to the record
of testimony. Peralta Estrada testified that the police who witnessed his cousins
assault him “did not do anything” to assist him and instead were there “taking care
of [his] cousins” who worked for the cartel. Peralta Estrada further testified that
police told him “they were not able to do anything” when he submitted a police
report regarding the beating. The IJ did not make an explicit adverse credibility
finding, and the BIA adopted and affirmed the IJ’s decision under Matter of
Burbano, 20 I. & N. Dec. 872, 874 (BIA 1994). Thus, the agency failed to
consider all relevant evidence. See Parada v. Sessions, 902 F.3d 901, 915-16 (9th
Cir. 2018) (remanding where “the agency erred by failing to consider all relevant
evidence” as to CAT relief); Cole v. Holder, 659 F.3d 762, 771-72 (9th Cir. 2011)
(indications of the agency’s failure to properly consider all of the relevant evidence
“include misstating the record”).
Apart from these findings, it is unclear why the BIA denied Peralta Estrada’s
CAT claim. See Movsisian v. Ashcroft, 395 F.3d 1095, 1098 (9th Cir. 2005) (BIA
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must provide a reasoned explanation for its actions). Thus, we grant the petition
for review and remand Peralta Estrada’s CAT claim to the BIA for further
proceedings consistent with this disposition. See INS v. Ventura, 537 U.S. 12, 16-
18 (2002) (per curiam).
Peralta Estrada’s removal is stayed pending a decision by the Board of
Immigration Appeals.
The parties shall bear their own costs on appeal.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part;
GRANTED in part; REMANDED.
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