YEPEZ GALINDO AKA AKA v. SESSIONS III (2018)

MEMORANDUM **

Abraham Yepez-Galindo, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his application for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”). We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review de novo questions of law, Cerezo v. Mukasey, 512 F.3d 1163, 1166 (9th Cir. 2008), except to the extent that deference is owed to the BIA’s determination of the governing statutes and regulations, Simeonov v. Ashcroft, 371 F.3d 532, 535 (9th Cir. 2004). We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006). We deny the petition for review.

Even if extortion threats to his mother and his uncle’s shooting constituted changed circumstances, the record does not compel the conclusion that Yepez-Galindo filed his asylum application within a reasonable period of time. See 8 C.F.R. § 1208.4(a)(4); see also Husyev v. Mukasey, 528 F.3d 1172, 1181-82 (9th Cir. 2008) (364-day delay in filing after showing of extraordinary circumstances was not reasonable).

The BIA did not err in finding that Yepez-Galindo did not establish membership in a cognizable social group. See Ramirez-Munoz v. Lynch, 816 F.3d 1226, 1229 (9th Cir. 2016) (concluding that “imputed wealthy Americans” returning to Mexico does not constitute a particular social group); Delgado-Ortiz v. Holder, 600 F.3d 1148, 1151-1152 (9th Cir. 2010) (concluding that “returning Mexicans from the United States” does not constitute a particular social group).

Finally, substantial evidence also supports the agency’s denial of CAT relief because petitioner failed to show it is more likely than not he would be tortured if returned to Mexico. See Zheng v. Holder, 644 F.3d 829, 835-36 (9th Cir. 2011) (possibility of torture too speculative).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.