U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2015

Gustavo Molina v. Loretta E. Lynch

Gustavo Molina v. Loretta E. Lynch
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · Decided July 1, 2015 · Canby, Bea, Murguia
608 F. App'x 554

Gustavo Molina v. Loretta E. Lynch

Opinion

MEMORANDUM **

Noe. De Jesus Lopez, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for 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 the agency’s factual findings, Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir. 2008), and we deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Lopez failed to establish the government is unable or unwilling to control the individuals he fears. See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399 F.3d 1148, 1154 (9th Cir. 2005) (record did not compel finding petitioner faced persecution by forces the government was unwilling or unable to control); see also Truong v. Holder, 613 F.3d 938, 941-42 (9th Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (same). Thus, Lopez’s withholding of removal claim fails.

Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of Lopez’s CAT claim because he failed to establish it is more likely than not that he would be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to El Salvador. See Silaya, 524 F.3d at 1073.

*555 Finally, we reject Lopez s request to remand for the potential exercise of prose-cutorial discretion, and we lack jurisdiction to direct respondent to consider an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, see Vilchiz-Soto v. Holder, 688 F.3d 642, 644 (9th Cir. 2012) (order).

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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