Garduno Gonzalez v. Bondi

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: February 7, 2025
• Docket: 23-1056
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 7 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

FELIPE DE JESUS GARDUNO No. 23-1056 GONZALEZ, Agency No. A208-818-173 Petitioner,

v. MEMORANDUM*

PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General,

Respondent.

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

Submitted February 3, 2025** Pasadena, California

Before: MILLER, LEE, and DESAI, Circuit Judges.

Felipe de Jesus Garduno Gonzalez (“Gonzalez”), a native and citizen of

Mexico, petitions for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision

affirming the Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his applications for asylum,

* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture

(“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We deny the petition.

We review the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT protection

for substantial evidence. Garcia-Milian v. Holder, 755 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir.

2014). Whether a particular social group is cognizable is reviewed de novo, but

findings of fact, including social distinction determinations, are reviewed for

substantial evidence. See Conde Quevedo v. Barr, 947 F.3d 1238, 1241–42 (9th Cir.

2020). Where, as here, the BIA cites Matter of Burbano, 20 I. & N. Dec. 872, 874

(B.I.A. 1994), and “does not express disagreement with” the IJ’s decision, we review

the IJ’s decision directly. Viridiana v. Holder, 646 F.3d 1230, 1233 (9th Cir. 2011)

(quotation omitted).

1. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of asylum and

withholding of removal. To establish eligibility for asylum or withholding of

removal, a petitioner must show a likelihood or clear probability of persecution “on

account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or

political opinion.” Sharma v. Garland, 9 F.4th 1052, 1059 (9th Cir. 2021) (quoting

8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42)(A)). A particular social group is cognizable if it is “(1)

composed of members who share a common immutable characteristic, (2) defined

with particularity, and (3) socially distinct within the society in question.” Villegas

Sanchez v. Garland, 990 F.3d 1173, 1180 (9th Cir. 2021) (quoting Akosung v. Barr,

2 23-1056 970 F.3d 1095, 1103 (9th Cir. 2020)).

Gonzalez alleges membership in the proposed social group “Mexican

individuals who previously resided in the United States.” We have held the proposed

social group “returning Mexicans from the United States” is not cognizable.

Delgado-Ortiz v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1148, 1151–52 (9th Cir. 2010) (per curiam); see

also Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1228–29 (9th Cir. 2016) (rejecting

proposed social group “imputed wealthy Americans”). Because “Mexican

individuals who previously resided in the United States” is indistinguishable from

“returning Mexicans from the United States,” the BIA did not err in finding

Gonzalez’s proposed social group was not cognizable. Accordingly, the BIA’s

denial of asylum and withholding of removal is supported by substantial evidence.

2. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of CAT relief. To

qualify for CAT relief, an applicant must show it is “more likely than not” that he

would be tortured in his country of removal. 8 C.F.R § 1208.16(c)(2). “Though

torture need not be on account of a protected ground, it must be ‘inflicted by or at

the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official.’” Flores-

Vega v. Barr, 932 F.3d 878, 887 (9th Cir. 2019) (quoting 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1)).

Although Gonzalez testified that the Mexican government is corrupt and that

violence in Mexico has increased since he left, he did not provide any evidence that

“he, in particular, would . . . face torture with government consent or acquiescence

3 23-1056 upon his return to Mexico.” Tzompantzi-Salazar v. Garland, 32 F.4th 696, 706 (9th

Cir. 2022). Generalized evidence of crime and corruption does not establish the

particularized threat of torture necessary for CAT relief. See id.; Dawson v. Garland,

998 F.3d 876, 885 (9th Cir. 2021) (holding that country conditions evidence showing

generalized violence did not compel the conclusion that petitioner would more likely

than not experience such violence). Thus, the BIA’s denial of CAT relief is

supported by substantial evidence.

The petition is DENIED.

4 23-1056