MURILLO LINARES v. BARR (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Luis Murillo-Linares, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigrations Appeals’ (BIA) order denying his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and relief under the Convention Against Torture. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252, and we deny the petition. We review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Zehatye v. Gonzales, 453 F.3d 1182, 1184-85 (9th Cir. 2006).

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that Murillo-Linares failed to establish he would be persecuted on account of a protected ground. See Pagayon v. Holder, 675 F.3d 1182, 1191 (9th Cir. 2011) (a personal dispute, standing alone, does not constitute persecution based on a protected ground); 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, Murillo-Linares’s asylum and withholding of removal claims fail.

Substantial evidence supports the BIA’s determination that Murillo-Linares did not establish that he is more likely than not to be tortured by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Mexico. See Aden v. Holder, 589 F.3d 1040, 1047 (9th Cir. 2009).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED.