QUERO QUERO AKA v. SESSIONS III (2018)

MEMORANDUM ***

Gildardo Quero-Quero, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), affirming the Immigration Judge’s (IJ) decision denying his application for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings underlying its denial of relief. Vitug v. Holder, 723 F.3d 1056, 1062 (9th Cir. 2013).

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s denial of withholding of removal because Quero failed to demonstrate a nexus between any alleged persecution and his social group of family. See Matter of L-E-A, 27 I. & N. Dec. 40, 43-44 (BIA 2017) (explaining “[i]f the persecutor would have treated the applicant the same if the protected characteristic of the family did not exist, then the applicant has not established a claim on this ground”). Substantial evidence also supports the BIA’s denial of CAT relief because the record does not compel the conclusion that it is more likely than not that Quero will be tortured at the instigation of, or with the acquiescence of, the government if returned to Mexico. See Silaya v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1066, 1073 (9th Cir. 2008) (discussing standard for CAT relief). Accordingly, we deny Quero’s petition for review.

PETITION DENIED.