MICHEL PANDURO v. BARR (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Juan Manuel Michel-Panduro, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (“BIA”) order denying his motion to terminate and dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) decision denying his application for withholding of removal and denying his request for a continuance. Our jurisdiction is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review the denial of withholding of removal for substantial evidence, and we review questions of law de novo. Guo v. Sessions, 897 F.3d 1208, 1212 (9th Cir. 2018). We review for abuse of discretion the agency’s denial of a continuance. Ahmed v. Holder, 569 F.3d 1009, 1012 (9th Cir. 2009). We dismiss in part and deny in part the petition for review.

We lack jurisdiction to consider Michel-Panduro’s contentions as to past persecution and a “former landowner” particular social group because he failed to raise them to the BIA. See Barron v. Ashcroft, 358 F.3d 674, 677-78 (9th Cir. 2004).

Substantial evidence supports the agency’s determination that Michel-Panduro failed to establish a clear probability of future persecution in Mexico. See Tamang v. Holder, 598 F.3d 1083, 1094-95 (9th Cir. 2010) (fear of future persecution was not objectively reasonable). Thus, Michel-Panduro’s withholding of removal claim fails.

The IJ did not abuse her discretion in denying Michel-Panduro’s request for a continuance where Michel-Panduro failed to demonstrate good cause. See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29; Ahmed, 569 F.3d at 1012 (listing factors to consider).

Lastly, the BIA did not err in denying Michel-Panduro’s motion to terminate proceedings. See Karingithi v. Whitaker, 913 F.3d 1158, 1160-62 (9th Cir. 2019) (notice to appear need not include time and date of hearing to vest jurisdiction in the immigration court).

PETITION FOR REVIEW DISMISSED in part; DENIED in part.