Jorge Reyes v. Loretta E. Lynch

MEMORANDUM

Jorge Manuel Reyes, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions pro se for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing his appeal from an 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 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.

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Reyes’s past harm did not rise to the level of persecution. See Nahrvani v. Gonzales, 399 F.3d 1148, 1153 (9th Cir.2005) (persecution is an extreme concept). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Reyes’s fear of future persecution lacked á nexus to a protected ground. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir.2010) (“desire to be free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence ... bears no nexus to a protected ground”). Thus, Reyes’s asylum claim fails.

Because Reyes failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily failed to meet the…