U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2010

Carlos Hernandez-aquino v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

Carlos Hernandez-aquino v. Eric H. Holder Jr.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided April 14, 2010 · Rymer, McKeown, Paez
375 F. App'x 758

Carlos Hernandez-aquino v. Eric H. Holder Jr.

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Carlos Ernesto Hernandez-Aquino, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of a Boai’d 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 (CAT). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence factual findings, Santos-Lemus v. Mukasey, 542 F.3d 738, 742 (9th Cir. 2008), and we review de novo due process claims, Ram v. INS, 243 F.3d 510, 516 (9th Cir. 2001). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that the threats gang members made against Hernandez-Aquino did not constitute persecution. See Lim v. INS, 224 F.3d 929, 936 (9th Cir. 2000). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Hernandez-Aquino failed to establish past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of an anti-gang political opinion or membership in a particular social group. See Santos-Lemus, 542 F.3d at 745-47. Accordingly, his asylum and withholding of removal claims fail. See id. at 748.

Hernandez-Aquino’s CAT claim fails because he did not establish a likelihood of torture by, at the instigation of, or with the consent or acquiescence of the Guatemalan government. See Azanor v. Ashcroft, 364 F.3d 1013, 1019 (9th Cir. 2004).

Finally, Hernandez-Aquino’s due process challenge to the BIA’s summary affir-mance fails because the BIA adopted and affirmed the IJ’s decision in its .entirety, citing Matter of Burbano, 20 I. & N. Dec. 872 (BIA 1994). See Abebe v. Gonzales, 432 F.3d 1037, 1040 (9th Cir. 2005) (en banc) (stating that a Burbano affirmance signifies that the BIA has conducted an independent review of the record and has determined that its conclusions are the same as those articulated by the IJ).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

**

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.

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