GOMEZ VASQUEZ v. SESSIONS III (2018)

Carlos Humberto Gomez-Vasquez, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitions for review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board) dismissing his appeal from the immigration judge’s denial of his requests for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). We have thoroughly reviewed the record, including the transcript of the merits hearing and all supporting evidence. We conclude that the record evidence does not compel a ruling contrary to any of the administrative factual findings, see 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B) (2012) and that substantial evidence supports the Board’s decision, see INS v. Elias-Zacarias, 502 U.S. 478, 481, 112 S.Ct. 812, 117 L.Ed.2d 38 (1992).^*

We therefore deny the petition for review for the reasons stated by the Board. In re Gomez-Vasquez (B.I.A. Aug. 1, 2017). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED

FOOTNOTES

FOOTNOTE.   Gomez-Vasquez has waived review of the denial of protection under the CAT because he does not raise the issue in the argument section of his brief. United States v. Holness, 706 F.3d 579, 592 (4th Cir. 2013) (noting the “oft-cited rule that contentions not raised in the argument section of the opening brief are abandoned” (internal quotation marks omitted)); Snyder v. Phelps, 580 F.3d 206, 217 (4th Cir. 2009) (noting that an appellant “must raise in its opening brief all the issues it wishes the court to address” and concluding that an appellant waived contentions not briefed (internal quotation marks omitted) ).

PER CURIAM:

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.