Record contained sufficient evidence to support IJ’s denial of alien’s application for withholding of removal to Mexico based on his proposed social group of Mexican nationals whose family members have suffered persecution at hands of Zetas gang and other drug cartels in Veracruz, Mexico. Alien was removable based on his Wisconsin drug possession conviction, and record showed that alien had not experienced past persecution prior to his entry into U.S. Moreover, although alien presented evidence of pervasive drug violence by drug cartels in Mexico, he failed to present any evidence that Zetas gang would target him because of his family ties. Also, alien had failed to present evidence that he could not reasonably relocate to another part of Mexico to avoid persecution.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Immigration