U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2014

Rene Puac v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Rene Puac v. Eric Holder, Jr.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided October 1, 2014 · Fletcher, Rawlinson, Christen
584 F. App'x 871

Rene Puac v. Eric Holder, Jr.

Opinion

*872 MEMORANDUM **

Rene Fidel Puac, 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 decision denying his application for withholding of removal. Our jurisdiction is governed by 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). We deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

Puac contends he will be persecuted in Guatemala on account of his Mayan ethnicity. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Puac has not demonstrated that any potential mistreatment he may face in Guatemala would rise to the level of persecution. See Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1016-17 (9th Cir. 2003) (discrimination, including employment discrimination, and harassment did not compel finding of persecution). We lack jurisdiction to consider Puac’s disfavored group contention because he failed to raise this issue to the BIA. See Arsdi v. Holder, 659 F.3d 925, 928-29 (9th Cir. 2011). Puac does not otherwise challenge the BIA’s denial of this "withholding of removal claim. Thus, Puac’s withholding of removal claim fails.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.

**

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

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