Dominguez-Chij v. Bondi

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 13 2026

MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

JOSE LUIS DOMINGUEZ-CHIJ, No. 25-1271

Agency No. Petitioner, A216-638-509 v.

MEMORANDUM* PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General,

Respondent.

On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals Argued and Submitted February 11, 2026 Pasadena, California

Before: SCHROEDER, WARDLAW, and BADE, Circuit Judges.

Jose Luis Dominguez-Chij, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of a decision by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirming the denial by an immigration judge (IJ) of his request for deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).1 We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, and we deny the petition.

1. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Petitioner failed to establish a particularized risk of torture with the acquiescence of a government official in Guatemala. Petitioner suffers from several mental health conditions and contends he will be tortured if placed in a psychiatric or penal institution in Guatemala. The government correctly responds that these fears are speculative and contingent upon Petitioner being institutionalized in Guatemala, which is unlikely. To the extent that Petitioner contends he would be the victim of gang violence and tortured with government acquiescence, there is no substantial evidence to support this claim. See Andrade-Garcia v. Lynch, 828 F.3d 829, 836- 37 (9th Cir. 2016); Garcia-Milian v. Holder, 755 F.3d 1026, 1034 (9th Cir. 2014).

2. The IJ properly rejected evidence of Petitioner’s experience in a United States institution as irrelevant. Petitioner had an opportunity to fully present his case, and his presentation was not limited in any meaningful respect. Accordingly, he fails to establish a due process violation. See Gutierrez v. Holder, 662 F.3d 1083, 1091 (9th Cir. 2011); Almaghzar v. Gonzales, 457 F.3d 915, 921 (9th Cir. 2006).

3. The BIA considered all of Petitioner’s claimed sources of torture and properly concluded that, in the aggregate, they did not establish a likelihood he would be tortured in Guatemala. See Velasquez-Samayoa v. Garland, 49 F.4th

4. The record refutes Petitioner’s contention that the agency ignored Dr. Linscott’s psychological evaluation assessing the severity of his mental health symptoms. We do not address Petitioner’s claims regarding the agency’s consideration of Dr. Kirkland’s report and testimony because they are unexhausted. See Magana-Magana v. Bondi, 129 F.4th 557, 573-74 (9th Cir. 2025).

PETITION DENIED.