Jose Luis Velez-Pillado v. JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, Attorney General

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
JOSE LUIS VELEZ-PILLADO,
Petitioner,
v.
JEFFERSON B. SESSIONS III, Attorney
General,
Respondent.
No. 16-73240
Agency No. A200-963-148
MEMORANDUM*
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted March 13, 2018**
Before: LEAVY, M. SMITH, and CHRISTEN, Circuit Judges.
Jose Luis Velez-Pillado, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review
of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an
immigration judge’s decision denying his application withholding of removal. We
have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the
* 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).
FILED
MAR 22 2018
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

-- 1 of 2 --

2 16-73240
agency’s factual findings. Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir. 2008).
We deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Velez-Pillado
failed to demonstrate a nexus between the harm he fears and a protected ground.
See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (applicant’s desire to be
free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang
members bears no nexus to a protected ground); cf. Barajas-Romero v. Lynch, 846
F.3d 351, 359-60 (9th Cir. 2017) (discussing Zetino). Thus, Velez-Pillado’s
withholding of removal claim fails.
PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.

-- 2 of 2 --