SON TECUM v. BARR (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Josefina Son Tecum, a native and citizen of Guatemala, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order dismissing her appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying her application for asylum and withholding of removal. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. 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.

Son Tecum does not make any argument challenging the agency’s dispositive conclusion that her proposed social group of “young school-aged women being targeted by gangs” is not cognizable. See Martinez-Serrano v. INS, 94 F.3d 1256, 1259-60 (9th Cir. 1996) (issues not specifically raised and argued in a party’s opening brief are waived).

Even considering the claimed social group as one of “young school-aged women”, substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Son Tecum failed to establish that she was or would be persecuted on account of her membership in that group. See Zetino v. Holder, 622 F.3d 1007, 1016 (9th Cir. 2010) (an applicant’s “desire to be free from harassment by criminals motivated by theft or random violence by gang members bears no nexus to a protected ground”). Thus, Son Tecum’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.