Case Explained: CARLOS FLORES-HERNANDEZ V. TODD BLANCHE

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-11 The Ninth Circuit denied the petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision affirming the denial of Carlos Flores-Hernandez’s applications for withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). The court applied the substantial evidence standard of review, holding that the record did not compel a finding that it was more likely than not Flores-Hernandez would be persecuted or tortured if returned to Mexico. Regarding withholding of removal, the court found no past persecution occurred after his resignation from the police force, as he suffered only verbal threats rather than physical harm, and no future persecution was likely given that ten years had passed since his resignation without further physical attacks on him or his family. Similarly, for CAT protection, the court ruled it was speculative to conclude he faced a risk of torture more than a decade later and found insufficient record evidence to support his conclusory claim that Mexican authorities acquiesced to such torture. Consequently, the petition is denied, leaving the agency’s order denying relief in place. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.