Jose Recenos v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Jose Atilio Recenos, a native and citizen of- Nicaragua, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from the immigration judge’s decision denying his application for withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir.2006). We deny the petition for review.

The BIA found that Recenos failed to establish the harm he experienced and fears in El Salvador was on account of a protected ground. Recenos’ contends that he suffered harm on account of his particular social group comprised of his family. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s finding that Recenos failed to establish that he or his family members were targeted by gang members because of their family membership. See Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir.2009) (under the REAL ID Act, a protected ground must be “one central reason” for an applicant’s persecution); Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir.2010) (“An [applicant’s] desire to be free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence…