Dagoberto Nunez-Flores v. Eric Holder, Jr.

MEMORANDUM

Keimi Udiel Reyes-Monzon, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for re view of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). Our jurisdiction is governed by 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), and we deny in part and dismiss in part the petition for review.

Reyes-Monzon does not challenge the BIA’s denial of his asylum application as untimely. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir.1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are deemed waived). Thus, we deny the petition for review as to Reyes-Monzon’s asylum claim.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Reyes-Monzon failed to establish past persecution or a fear of future persecution on account of a protected ground from a powerful individual in his hometown. See Molino-Morales v. INS, 237 F.3d 1048, 1052 (9th Cir.2001) (“[Pjurely personal retribution is, of…