Sanchez-Laparra

MEMORANDUM **

Jose Antonio Sanchez-Laparra, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the denial by the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA”) and Immigration Judge (“IJ”) of his claims for asylum and withholding of deportation. Because the transitional rules apply, Kalaw v. INS, 133 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.1997), we have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a). We review for substantial evidence, Lata v. INS, 204 F.3d 1241, 1245 (9th Cir.2000), and will uphold the IJ’s decision unless the evidence compels a contrary conclusion, INS v. Elias-Zacharias, 502 U.S. 478, 483-84 , 112 S.Ct. 812 , 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992). We deny the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s reliance on the 1997 Department of State report and findings that, with the signing of the peace accords, the political landscape in Guatemala changed, Civilian Self-Defense Patrols (PAC’s) have been eliminated, and Sanchez-Laparra’s situation in the future would be one of personal vengeance and not persecution. See Gonzalez-Hernandez v. Ashcroft, 336 F.3d 995, 998-99 (9th Cir.2003) (upholding a denial of asylum based on changed country conditions in Guatemala where the agency…