Vega Lorente v. Bondi

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 20 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT SABASTIAN VEGA LORENTE, No. 24-3215 Agency No. Petitioner, A022-392-553 v. MEMORANDUM* PAMELA BONDI, Attorney General, Respondent. On Petition for Review of an Order of an Immigration Judge Submitted March 17, 2025 ** Before: CANBY, R. NELSON, and FORREST, Circuit Judges. Sabastian Vega Lorente, a native and citizen of Nicaragua, petitions pro se for review of an immigration judge’s (“IJ’s”) order affirming an asylum officer’s negative reasonable fear determination. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence an IJ’s negative reasonable fear * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2). determination. Orozco-Lopez v. Garland, 11 F.4th 764, 774 (9th Cir. 2021). We deny the petition for review. Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s determination that Vega Lorente failed to show a reasonable possibility that the harm he fears would be on account of a protected ground. See Bartolome v. Sessions, 904 F.3d 803, 814 (9th Cir. 2018) (no basis for withholding of removal where petitioner did not show a nexus to a protected ground). Substantial evidence also supports the agency’s determination that Vega Lorente failed to show a reasonable possibility of torture by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Nicaragua. See Andrade-Garcia v. Lynch, 828 F.3d 829, 836-37 (9th Cir. 2016) (petitioner failed to demonstrate government acquiescence sufficient to establish a reasonable possibility of future torture); Wakkary v. Holder, 558 F.3d 1049, 1067-68 (9th Cir. 2009) (no likelihood of torture). The temporary stay of removal remains in place until the mandate issues. PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 2 24-3215