Jonathan Soriano v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Marcelino Sanchez-Cruz, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) 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 for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1056 (9th Cir.2009). We deny the petition for review.

We reject Sanchez-Cruz’s contention that the IJ failed to consider properly his fear of persecution by gangs on account of his political opinion and/or membership in a particular social group. Sanchez-Cruz does not challenge the BIA’s finding that he failed to show gang members targeted him due to his perceived ability to pay rather than his proposed social group. Further, substantial evidence supports the BIA’s conclusion that Sanchez-Cruz failed to establish his actual or imputed political opinion was a central reason for the harm he suffered or fears. See Parussimova v. Mukasey, 555 F.3d 734, 740 (9th Cir.2009) (“a protected ground [must] represent ‘one…