Jonathan Cruz-Guzman v. William P. Barr

THAPAR, Circuit Judge.

*1035 Jonathan Cruz-Guzman seeks review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order denying his application for asylum. We deny his petition.

I

Cruz is a native of El Salvador. He grew up in a neighborhood dominated by a gang known as 18th Street. 18th Street's rival gang, MS-13, sought to recruit Cruz and his friends to join MS-13 as "spies" so they could relay information about 18th Street activities in the area. After they refused, MS-13 began threatening and assaulting them. This harassment culminated when members of MS-13 murdered Cruz's friend Brian. Later that week, one of…