Cristian Coreas-Giron v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Cristian Coreas-Giron, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from the immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review de novo the BIA’s legal conclusions and review for substantial evidence factual findings. Barrios v. Holder, 581 F.3d 849, 854 (9th Cir.2009). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Coreas-Giron failed to establish the extortion demands and threats from gang members were on account of a protected ground. See id. at 856 (evidence supported conclusion that gang victimized the petitioner for economic and personal reasons rather than on account of a protected ground); see also Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir.2009) (“[t]he REAL ID Act requires that a protected ground represent ‘one central reason’ for an asylum applicant’s persecution”). Accordingly, because Coreas-Giron failed to demonstrate he was persecuted or fears persecution on account…