Jose Vasquez-Trejo v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Jose Alejandro Vasquez-Trejo, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for 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. Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1070 (9th Cir.2008). We deny the petition for review.

Vasquez-Trejo testified that guerrillas tried to forcibly recruit him during the Salvadoran civil war and that he fears ex-guerrillas or gang members will harm him if he returns. Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Vasquez-Trejo did not establish past persecution on account of his membership in either of his proposed social 'groups. See INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 482-84 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992) (petitioner must provide evidence of persecutor’s motive and failed to show nexus to protected ground for forced conscription efforts by guerrilla organization). Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s determination…