DAVID ALBERTO PALMA CHAVEZ v. LORETTA LYNCH (2016)

MEMORANDUM*

David Palma-Chavez, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the BIA's decision affirming the denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252 and deny the petition.

Palma argues that the BIA erred in its determination that he does not belong to a cognizable particular social group for purposes of withholding relief. However, even if Palma were a member of such a group, he has not contested before this court the Board's conclusion that his withholding claim nonetheless fails because of insufficient evidence that “any persecution was or will be on account of his membership in such group.” Ayala v. Holder, 640 F.3d 1095, 1097 (9th Cir. 2011) (per curiam) (emphasis in original). He has therefore waived any argument to that effect, Martinez–Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259 (9th Cir. 1996), and the Board's denial of withholding relief on that basis must be upheld.

The BIA also did not err in failing to consider Palma's claim for CAT relief. The Board stated that it deemed the issue waived because of Palma's failure to meaningfully challenge the IJ's denial of CAT relief on appeal. Although Palma briefly mentioned his CAT claim in his brief before the BIA, he failed to specifically challenge any of the IJ's legal conclusions or factual findings. Accordingly, the Board did not err in holding those claims waived.

PETITION DENIED.