Echevarria-Barajas v. Lynch

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Echevarria-Barajas v. Lynch, 623 F. App'x 472 (9th Cir. 2015)

Echevarria-Barajas v. Lynch

Opinion of the Court

MEMORANDUM **

Horacio Echevarria-Barajas, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration, Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”), and voluntary departure. 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.

*473Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that, even if Echevarria-Barajas was credible and filed a timely asylum application, he failed to establish past persecution in Mexico. See Lim v. INS, 224 F.3d 929, 936 (9th Cir. 2000) (“Threats standing alone ... constitute past persecution in only a small category of cases, and only when the threats are so menacing as to cause significant actual ‘suffering or harm.’”). Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s conclusion that Echevarria-Barajas failed to demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution. See Halim v. Holder, 590 F.3d 971, 976-77 (9th Cir. 2009) (petitioner failed to establish the objective component of a well-founded fear of future persecution); Nagoulko v. INS, 333 F.3d 1012, 1018 (9th Cir. 2003) (possibility of future persecution “too speculative”). We reject Echevarria-Barajas’ contention regarding a pattern or practice of persecution. See Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1061 (9th Cir. 2009) (explaining requirements for establishing a pattern or practice of persecution claim). We lack jurisdiction to consider Echevarria-Barajas’ contention regarding “other serious harm” because he did not raise it to the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir. 2004). Thus, Echevarria-Barajas’ asylum claim fails.

Because Echevarria-Barajas did not establish eligibility for asylum, his withholding of removal claim necessarily fails. See Zehatye, 453 F.3d at 1190.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of Echevarria-Barajas’ CAT claim because he failed to establish it is more likely than not he would be tortured if returned to Mexico. See Alphonsus v. Holder, 705 F.3d 1031, 1049-50 (9th Cir. 2013).

Finally, we lack jurisdiction to review the agency’s discretionary denial of voluntary departure. See Corro-Barragan v. Holder, 718 F.3d 1174, 1177 (9th Cir. 2013).

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.

Reference

Full Case Name
Horacio ECHEVARRIA-BARAJAS v. Loretta E. LYNCH, Attorney General
Status
Published