Gerson Garrido Ruiz v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

NOT FOR PUBLICATION
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT
GERSON GARRIDO RUIZ,
Petitioner,
v.
MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney
General,
Respondent.
No. 22-1463
Agency No. A205-022-828
MEMORANDUM*
On Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
Submitted November 15, 2023**
San Francisco, California
Before: S.R. THOMAS, and MENDOZA, Circuit Judges; and OLIVER, Jr.***
Gerson Garrido Ruiz, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for
review of a Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) decision dismissing his appeal
FILED
NOV 17 2023
MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
* 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).
*** The Honorable Solomon Oliver, Jr., Senior Judge for the Northern
District of Ohio, sitting by designation.

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from an Immigration Judge’s (“IJ”) denials of asylum, withholding of removal, and
protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is
governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. Where, as here, the BIA adopts and affirms an IJ’s
decision and cites Matter of Burbano, 20 I&N Dec. 872 (BIA 1994), this Court
reviews both the IJ’s and BIA’s decisions. Ruiz-Colmenares v. Garland, 25 F.4th
742, 748 (9th Cir. 2022).
We review for substantial evidence the agency’s denials of asylum,
withholding of removal, and CAT relief. Duran-Rodriguez v. Barr, 918 F.3d 1025,
1028 (9th Cir. 2019). We may not reverse the agency’s decision “unless any
reasonable adjudicator would be compelled to conclude to the contrary.” 8 U.S.C.
§ 1252(b)(4)(B); Ruiz-Colmenares, 25 F.4th at 748. Because the parties are
familiar with the factual and procedural history of the case, we need not recount it
here. We deny the petition for review.
I
Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s conclusion that Garrido Ruiz did
not establish the required nexus for asylum or withholding of removal. To meet
the nexus requirement, a noncitizen must show that a protected ground was “a
reason” (withholding of removal) or “one central reason” (asylum) that he has been
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or will be harmed. See Barajas-Romero v. Lynch, 846 F.3d 351, 357–58 (9th Cir.
2017) (citing 8 U.S.C.§§ 1158(b)(1)(B)(i), 1231(b)(3)(A), (C)).
Here, Garrido Ruiz contends that he was targeted by the MS-13 gang on
account of his membership in the particular social group of “former Salvadoran
military officer[s] with training and ability to access military information.”
However, the BIA determined that that the gang who targeted Garrido Ruiz did so
in an attempt to forcibly recruit him. This conclusion is supported by substantial
evidence. The vague language used by gang members during encounters with
Garrido Ruiz, even within the context of past interactions, does not compel the
conclusion that his status as a former Salvadoran military officer was “a reason” or
“one central reason” that the gang members targeted him. See id. Garrido Ruiz
also waived his political opinion based claim by failing to present testimony on the
issue or asserting such a claim in his written closing arguments before the IJ. See
Honcharov v. Barr, 924 F.3d 1293, 1297 (9th Cir. 2019)(holding that the BIA
“does not per se err when it concludes that arguments raised for the first time on
appeal do not have to be entertained”)(emphasis omitted).
II
Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Garrido Ruiz
failed to demonstrate eligibility for CAT protection. To demonstrate eligibility for
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CAT protection, an applicant must show “it is more likely than not he or she would
be tortured if removed to the proposed country of removal.” 8 C.F.R. §
1208.16(c)(2); Zheng v. Holder, 644 F.3d 829, 835 (9th Cir. 2011). The
regulations define torture as “any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether
physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person by or at the instigation of
or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an
official capacity.” 8 C.F.R. § 1208.18(a)(1).
Here, the evidence does not compel the conclusion that Garrido Ruiz will be
tortured if he returns to El Salvador. The evidence suggests that the general
violence in El Salvador is declining and twelve years had passed since Garrido
Ruiz’s last incident of torture before he appeared in front of the IJ. Additionally,
the news reports provided by Garrido Ruiz are too attenuated from his specific
circumstances to show a clear probability of torture.
PETITION DENIED.
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