Cesar Lopez-Chilel v. Loretta E. Lynch

MEMORANDUM

Juan Giovanny Mejia-Urizar, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review 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”). 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), and we deny the petition for review.

Mejia-Urizar does- not challenge the agency’s determination that his asylum claim was time barred, nor the agency’s denial of his CAT claim. 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 waived). Thus, we deny Mejia-Urizar’s petition as to his asylum and CAT claims.

With respect to withholding of removal, we reject Mejia-Urizar’s contention that the BIA did not reach the question of whether the harm he suffered in Guatemala was on account of a protected ground because it is not supported by the record. Mejia-Urizar does not challenge the agency’s nexus finding,…