Letran Ruiz v. Gonzales

MEMORANDUM **

Jose Samuel Letran Ruiz, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order affirming without opinion an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his applications for asylum, withhold *685 ing of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 . Reviewing for substantial evidence, see Gonzalez-Hernandez v. Ashcroft, 386 F.3d 995 , 998 (9th Cir.2003), we deny in part and grant in part the petition for review.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s determination that changed country conditions in Guatemala undermine Letran Ruiz’s fear of future persecution. See id. at 998-00 (holding that the State Department Country Report constituted substantial evidence to support the agency’s finding of changed country conditions in Guatemala).

Because Letran Ruiz failed to establish eligibility for asylum, he necessarily failed to establish eligibility for withholding of removal. See Alvarez-Santos v. INS, 332 F.3d 1245, 1255 (9th Cir.2003).

Substantial evidence also supports the IJ’s denial of CAT relief because Letran Ruiz failed to show it is more…