Veliz-Sarabia v. Bondi

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MAR 21 2025 MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT GABRIEL VELIZ-SARABIA, No. 23-630 Agency No. Petitioner A215-638-479 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. Gabriel Veliz-Sarabia, a native and citizen of Mexico, petitions pro se for review of an immigration judge’s (“IJ”) order affirming an asylum officer’s negative reasonable fear determination. We have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1252. We review for substantial evidence the IJ’s affirmance of the negative * 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). reasonable fear 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 Veliz-Sarabia failed to show a reasonable possibility that the harm he suffered or fears was or 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 IJ’s determination that Veliz-Sarabia failed to show a reasonable possibility of torture by or with the consent or acquiescence of the government if returned to Mexico. 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 despite “general ineffectiveness on the government’s part to investigate and prevent crime”). PETITION FOR REVIEW DENIED. 2 23-630