Paz
Paz v. Gonzales
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
Leonidas Reyes Paz, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order summarily affirming an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order denying his application for asylum and withholding of removal. We *618 have jurisdiction pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . We review for substantial evidence, Ochave v. INS, 254 F.3d 859, 861-62 (9th Cir.2001), and we deny the petition for review.
Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s determination that Reyes Paz did not suffer past persecution, and does not have a well-founded fear of future persecution, on account of a protected ground. Reyes Paz testified that he and his father refused to join the guerillas and that his father was kidnapped by guerillas in 1991. He also testified that he and his mother, as well as his male siblings, were beaten by guerillas. Neither this testimony, nor any other evidence in the record, compels the conclusion that the guerillas targeted Reyes Paz, even in part, on account of social group or political opinion, rather than because of his refusal to join the guerillas. See Tecun- Florian v. INS, 207 F.3d 1107, 1109-10 (9th Cir.2000) (upholding agency determination…