Alfredo MacEdo Templos v. Robert Wilkinson

987 F.3d 877
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedFebruary 9, 2021
Docket15-73122
StatusPublished
Cited by67 cases

This text of 987 F.3d 877 (Alfredo MacEdo Templos v. Robert Wilkinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Alfredo MacEdo Templos v. Robert Wilkinson, 987 F.3d 877 (9th Cir. 2021).

Opinion

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

ALFREDO MACEDO TEMPLOS, No. 15-73122 Petitioner, Agency No. v. A089-244-826

ROBERT M. WILKINSON, Acting Attorney General, OPINION Respondent.

On Petition for Review of an Order of the Board of Immigration Appeals

Argued and Submitted October 19, 2020 Honolulu, Hawaii

Filed February 9, 2021

Before: J. Clifford Wallace, Carlos T. Bea, and Mark J. Bennett, Circuit Judges.

Opinion by Judge Wallace; Concurrence by Judge Bea 2 MACEDO TEMPLOS V. WILKINSON

SUMMARY *

Immigration

Denying in part and granting in part Alfredo Macedo Templos’s petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ denial of withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture, and remanding, the panel held that the Board correctly concluded that Macedo’s social group comprised of “Mexican wealthy business owners” was not cognizable for purposes of withholding relief, but that the Board erred in concluding that Macedo failed to establish government involvement in, or acquiescence to, his alleged torture for purposes of CAT relief.

The panel held that the Board correctly concluded that Macedo’s proposed social group of “Mexican wealthy business owners” was not cognizable because it lacked social distinction, particularity, or an immutable characteristic. First, the panel explained that Macedo’s proposed group was not socially distinct, because the record lacked evidence that Mexican society perceives wealthy business owners as a distinct group, and the United States Department of State’s Country Report states that kidnapping for ransom occurs at “all socioeconomic levels.” Second, the panel explained that the proposed group lacks particularity because it could include large swaths of people and various cross-sections of a community. Finally, the panel explained that being a wealthy business owner is not

* This summary constitutes no part of the opinion of the court. It has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the reader. MACEDO TEMPLOS V. WILKINSON 3

an immutable characteristic because it is not fundamental to an individual’s identity.

The panel held that even if Macedo’s proposed group were cognizable, he would still not be entitled to withholding relief, because substantial evidence supported the IJ’s decision that Macedo did not establish a nexus between the feared harm and his alleged membership in the proposed group.

Addressing Macedo’s CAT claim, the panel held that the Board erred in concluding that Macedo had not proven he had been “subjected to any harm by Mexican officials.” Macedo argued that he established the Mexican government’s acquiescence to his torture because he had reasons to believe he was targeted by Mexican judicial police, an official discouraged him from filing a report, and he filed police reports and no action was taken. The panel noted that the Board’s decision preceded and therefore did not consider this court’s opinion in Barajas-Romero v. Lynch, 846 F.3d 351 (9th Cir. 2017) (holding that the question of whether the public officials who perpetrated torture against the petitioner were acting in their official capacity is irrelevant, and that the implementing regulations do not establish a “rogue official” exception to CAT relief). The panel concluded that even if the judicial officers who attacked Macedo were not in uniform and did not act in their official capacity, Macedo sufficiently demonstrated that he was the victim of an official perpetration of violence. The panel remanded for the Board to consider whether Macedo’s past harm by judicial officers qualified as torture, and whether Macedo otherwise established that it was more likely than not he would be tortured if returned. 4 MACEDO TEMPLOS V. WILKINSON

Concurring, Judge Bea agreed that “wealthy business owner” does not meet the particularity or social distinction elements required to merit classification as a cognizable particular social group, but would refrain from holding that it cannot be an immutable characteristic. Judge Bea wrote separately to make clear that the majority’s holding otherwise must be considered erroneous dicta.

COUNSEL

Kevin Block (argued), Wailuku, Hawaii, for Petitioner.

Tim Ramnitz (argued), Attorney; Russell J.E. Verby, Senior Litigation Counsel; Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.; for Respondent.

OPINION

WALLACE, Circuit Judge:

Alfredo Macedo Templos petitions from the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) and challenges the denial of his application for withholding of removal and relief pursuant to the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

Macedo is a native citizen of Mexico. He states he fled Mexico after he and his family were targeted by criminals due to his successful clothing business. The Immigration Judge (IJ) concluded that, although Macedo was credible, he was not eligible for withholding of removal or CAT relief. The IJ held that Macedo’s proposed particular social group was not cognizable, and there was no nexus between the MACEDO TEMPLOS V. WILKINSON 5

alleged harm and his membership in the proposed group. The IJ also concluded that Macedo was not eligible for CAT relief because he failed to establish the Mexican government’s involvement in, or acquiescence to, his torture. The Board affirmed and provided additional analysis for why it believed the IJ’s determination was not clear error. Macedo petitions for review of the denial of his application for withholding of removal and CAT status.

We have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review both the IJ’s and the Board’s (collectively, the Agency) decisions when they each conduct a review of the evidence and the law. See Ali v. Holder, 637 F.3d 1025, 1028 (9th Cir. 2011). We review the IJ’s factual findings for substantial evidence. Arteaga v. Mukasey, 511 F.3d 940, 944 (9th Cir. 2007). We review questions of law, such as whether a proposed particular social group is cognizable for purposes of withholding of removal, de novo. Perdomo v. Holder, 611 F.3d 662, 665 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny the petition for review in part and grant and remand in part.

I.

Macedo was a small business owner in Mexico City, and he achieved some success. His business produced custom- made shirts and clothing, and it employed approximately 20 workers. However, he was extorted in 2000 by a group of unidentified individuals because of this success; they demanded monthly safety fees. Macedo refused and relocated his business to his home to avoid reprisals. He did not file a report with the police after an official warned him that the criminals could retaliate if they learned of the report. His home was subsequently targeted in 2003 with a drive- by-shooting, and he discovered a note that he believed linked the extortion attempt with the shooting. Macedo then closed the production side of his business and transitioned to selling 6 MACEDO TEMPLOS V. WILKINSON

only his remaining stock of clothes. Yet he and his family continued to be targeted with other crimes.

While selling his clothes in 2005, Macedo asserts that his vehicle was pulled over and he was beaten by two individuals he believes were judicial police officers. Macedo testified that one of them told him the attack was because Macedo did not pay, although the individual did not elaborate further.

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Bluebook (online)
987 F.3d 877, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/alfredo-macedo-templos-v-robert-wilkinson-ca9-2021.