FILED
NOT FOR PUBLICATION SEP 26 2012
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS U .S. C O U R T OF APPE ALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
RUDY ROMEO VASQUEZ-PEREZ, No. 10-72512
Petitioner, Agency No. A072-671-300
v.
MEMORANDUM *
ERIC H. HOLDER, Jr., Attorney General,
Respondent.
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted September 19, 2012 **
Before: LEAVY, HAWKINS, and HURWITZ, Circuit Judges.
Rudy Romeo Vasquez-Perez, 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 applications for asylum,
withholding of removal, 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”), and cancellation of removal. Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C.
§ 1252; see also Pinto v. Holder, 648 F.3d 976, 980 (9th Cir. 2011) (“the BIA’s
decision denying asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection but
remanding to the IJ for voluntary departure proceedings is a final order of
removal”). 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 due process claims, Martinez-Rosas v. Gonzales, 424 F.3d 926, 930 (9th Cir.
2005). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.
Vasquez-Perez contends that guerrillas threatened him on account of an
imputed political opinion and/or his membership in a particular social group
consisting of his family. Substantial evidence supports the agency’s denial of
Vasquez-Perez’s asylum and withholding of removal claims because he failed to
demonstrate he was or will be harmed on account of a protected ground. See
Pedro-Mateo v. INS, 224 F.3d 1147, 1151 (9th Cir. 2000) (indigenous Guatemalan
failed to show that forced recruitment was on account of protected ground); see
also INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481 n.1 (1992) (to reverse, evidence
must “compel” contrary conclusion). Accordingly, in the absence of a nexus to a
protected ground, Vasquez-Perez’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.
See Ochoa v. Gonzales, 406 F.3d 1166, 1172 (9th Cir. 2005).
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Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because
Vasquez-Perez failed to show it is more likely than not he will be tortured with the
consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Guatemala. See Silaya v.
Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008).
Because there is no indication that the agency applied the standards of the
REAL ID Act to this case, the BIA’s mistaken citation to it is harmless error. See
Larita-Martinez v. INS, 220 F.3d 1092, 1095 (9th Cir. 2000) (requiring prejudice
to prevail on a due process claim).
We lack jurisdiction to review Vasquez-Perez’s unexhausted contention that,
even in the absence of a well-founded fear, he is eligible for relief under 8 C.F.R.
§ 1208.13(b)(1)(iii). See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir. 2004).
Regarding his cancellation of removal claim, Vasquez-Perez contends the IJ
inappropriately discounted the harm to his U.S. citizen children and applied the
wrong legal standard. Because the agency applied the correct legal standard, we
lack jurisdiction to review its discretionary hardship determination. See Mendez-
Castro v. Mukasey, 552 F.3d 975, 980 (9th Cir. 2009).
Finally, Vasquez-Perez’s claim that the IJ erred by not reviewing the
evidence prior to the hearing fails, because he has not shown error or prejudice.
See Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000). His claim that the agency
3 10-72512
did not give any weight to his declaration fails because he did not overcome the
presumption that agency considered all the relevant evidence. See Larita-
Martinez, 220 F.3d at 1095-96.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.
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