The AI workspace for legal professionals
- Legal research with access to more than 1 million sources
- Document automation
- Matter management
- Hosted in the EU and Switzerland
Try it free for 14 days (10 questions/day during trial)
The AI workspace for legal professionals
Try it free for 14 days (10 questions/day during trial)
13-71895•ESTEBAN LEON-JUAN, AKA Juan Leon Esteban v. LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General
13-71895Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitOct 22, 2015
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
ESTEBAN LEON-JUAN, AKA Juan Leon
Esteban,
Petitioner,
v.
LORETTA E. LYNCH, Attorney General,
Respondent.
No. 13-71895
Agency No. A205-317-884
MEMORANDUM*
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted October 14, 2015**
Before: SILVERMAN, BYBEE, and WATFORD, Circuit Judges.
Esteban Leon-Juan, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions pro se 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, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”).
FILED
OCT 22 2015
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
* This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent
except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision
without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
-- 1 of 3 --
Our jurisdiction is governed by 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 review de novo due process challenges, Zetino v. Holder,
622 F.3d 1007, 1011-12 (9th Cir. 2010). We deny in part and dismiss in part the
petition for review.
The record does not compel the conclusion that Leon-Juan established
changed circumstances to excuse the untimely filing of his asylum application. See
8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4). Thus, we deny the petition as to Leon-Juan’s asylum
claim.
Leon-Juan did not suffer harm in Guatemala, but expressed fear of crime if
he returns. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Leon-Juan
failed to show it is more likely than not that he will be persecuted on account of a
protected ground. See Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740-41 (9th Cir.
2009) (protected ground must be “at least one central reason” for persecution);
Zetino, 622 F.3d at 1016 (“desire to be free from harassment by criminals
motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a
protected ground”). We lack jurisdiction to review Leon-Juan’s assertion
regarding corruption of government security forces, because he did not raise this
13-71895 2
-- 2 of 3 --
claim to the agency. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 678 (9th Cir. 2004).
Thus, Leon-Juan’s withholding of removal claim fails.
Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s denial of CAT relief, because
Leon-Juan failed to demonstrate it is more likely than not he would be tortured by
or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official in Guatemala. See Silaya,
524 F.3d at 1073.
We lack jurisdiction to consider Leon-Juan’s contention regarding
cancellation of removal, because he did not file an application for cancellation of
removal before the agency. See Barron, 358 F.3d at 677-78.
Finally, we reject Leon-Juan’s due process contention. See Lata v. INS, 204
F.3d 1241, 1246 (9th Cir. 2000) (requiring error to prevail on a due process claim).
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED in part; DISMISSED in part.
13-71895 3
-- 3 of 3 --
Connect Omnilex to search the legal corpus from your AI assistant.