Cases discussed on the Immigration Review Podcast

7/04/22

Zepeda-Lopez, et al. v. Garland, No. 19-145 (2d June 28, 2022)

• asylum; dual citizenship; dual nationality; statutory interpretation; “any”; dictionary definitions; INA § 101(a)(42)(A); refugee; UN Refugee Convention; statutory scheme as a whole; Matter of B-R-; Honduras

Matter of E-F-N-, 28 I&N Dec. 591 (BIA 2022)

• credibility; impeachment; filing deadlines; fundamental fairness; Federal Rules of Evidence; Cameroon; SCNC

Herrera-Alcala v. Garland, No. 20-1770 (4th Cir. June 30, 2022)

• venue; forum; Immigration Adjudication Center; credibility; Cuba; credible fear interview; omissions; inherent plausibility; recovery without medical attention; visa from persecuting country

Antonio v. Garland, No. 22-0141 (6th Cir. June 29, 2022)

• stay of removal; Nken; irreparable-harm; CAT deferral; drug trafficking; gangs; Dominican Republic

Barradas Jacome v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2439 (3d Cir. June 30, 2022)

• 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3925(a); expedited removal; due process; challenge removability; regulatory interpretation; exhaustion; administrative remedy; INA § 101(a)(43)(G); receipt of stolen property; mens rea

Antonio Hernandez v. Garland, No. 20-70158 (9th Cir. June 27, 2022)

• NACARA; LPR cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(a); INA § 240A(c)(6); statutory interpretation; statutory scheme as a whole; Matter of Hernandez-Romero

Alberto Hernandez v. Garland, No. 21-70493 (9th Cir. June 28, 2022)

• TPS; admission; admitted in any status; LPR cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(a); Sanchez v. Mayorkas; particularly serious crime; cumulative effect of convictions; Cal. Pen. Code § 273.5(A)

Sarkar v. Garland, No. 17-72212 (9th Cir. July 1, 2022)

• circuit court administrative closure; discretion standard; ICE discretion not to remove; prosecutorial discretion memo; changed country condition motion to reopen; individualized risk; Bangladesh

Djie v. Garland, No. 20-60448 (5th Cir. June 29, 2022)

• number bar to motions to reopen; changed country condition motion to reopen; regulatory interpretation; conflict between statute and regulation; 8 C.F.R. § 1003.2(c)(2); doctrine of expressio unius est exclusio alterius

6/27/22

United States v. Taylor, No. 20-1459 (U.S. June 21, 2022)

• Hobbs Act robbery; 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(3)(A); crime of violence; attempt; substantial step; realistic probability test

Menghistab v. Garland, No. 21-2099 (7th Cir. June 21, 2022)

• changed country conditions motion to reopen; CAT deferral; review of foreign law; prima facie showing; Ethiopian citizenship; ethnic Eritrean; Ethiopia; Tigray War; Eritrea

Matter of Nchifor, 28 I&N Dec. 585 (BIA 2022)

• deficient NTA; timely assertion of mandatory claims processing rule; forum shopping; choice of law; law of jurisdiction of detention; venue

Velasquez-Samayoa v. Garland, No. 21-70093 (9th Cir. June 24, 2022)

• CAT protection; harm in totality; aggregate risk; Dr. Thomas Boerman; MS-13; 18th Street gang; tattoos; percentage of harm; Matter of J-F-F-; expert testimony; El Salvador

6/20/22

Garland v. Gonzalez, et al., No. 20-322 (U.S. June 13, 2022)

• INA § 242(f)(1); injunctions; class action; individual; statutory interpretation; detention

Johnson v. Arteaga-Martinez, No. 19-896 (U.S. June 13, 2022)

• statutory interpretation; canon of constitutional avoidance; detention; withholding-only proceedings; reinstatement; Jennings

Aguirre-Zuniga v. Garland, No. 21-1201 (7th Cir. June 16, 2022)

• methamphetamine; isomers; categorical approach; internal divisibility; Ind. Code § 35-48-4-1.1; realistic probability test; legislative silence

Cabrera-Ruiz v. Garland, No. 21-2085 (7th Cir. June 14, 2022)

• CAT; acquiesce; fear of cartels; gang tattoo; credibility; Mexico

Reyes Pujols v. Garland, No. 21-1128 (1st Cir. June 14, 2022)

• credibility; aggregate inconsistencies; demeanor; unconscious bias; trauma survivors; Dominican Republic

Matter of D-L-S-, 28 I&N Dec. 568 (BIA 2022)

• particularly serious crime; final judgment; deferred adjudication; assault; Fla. Stat. § 784.041; conviction; canon on consistent usage

Holmes v. Garland, No. 21-2135 (8th Cir. June 17, 2022)

• remand; pro se admissions & concessions; due process; fundamental fairness

Donnelly v. CARRP, No. 20-4243 (2d Cir. June 14, 2022)

• INA § 310(c); jurisdiction; mandatory claims processing rule; exhaustion; naturalization; Ireland

Molina v. Garland, No. 19-73028 (9th Cir. June 13, 2022)

• asylum; past persecution; threats; fleeing; terrorist accusations; cumulative harm for asylum; El Chipote; risk percentage; protesting; CAT; detention at airport; Nicaragua

Greenwood v. Garland, No. 17-72389 (9th Cir. June 16, 2022)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; credibility; Matter of F-S-N-; identity; sua sponte; Jamaica

Marquez-Reyes v. Garland, No. 17-71367 (9th Cir. June 14, 2022)

• alien smuggling; INA § 212(a)(6)(E)(i); encouraged; knowing; dictionaries; cannon of constitutional avoidance; First Amendment; pro-immigration political advocacy; Equal Protection; vagueness; administrative closure

6/13/22

USA v. Castillo, No. 21-527 (2d Cir. June 8, 2022)

• crime of violence; attempt; violent force; attempted second-degree gang assault in violation of N.Y. Pen. L. §§ 120.06 and 110.00; legal impossibility

Flores-Alonso v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-14058 (11th Cir. June 6, 2022)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b); exceptional and extremely unusual hardship; Patel; reasoned consideration
• Donate to Immigrant’s List

Vasquez-Borjas v. Garland, No. 17-70867 (9th Cir. June 6, 2022)

• CIMT; Cal. Pen. Code § 472; forgery; intent to defraud; social security card; rule of the last antecedent; exhaustion; Matter of Burbano

Mendoza-Garcia v. Garland, No. 20-73583 (9th Cir. June 10, 2022)

• first-degree burglary of a dwelling; Or. Rev. Stat.§ 164.225; aggravated felony theft offense; INA § 101(a)(43)(G); divisibility; Oregon occupied dwelling; particularly serious crime; case-by-case analysis

Fosu v. Garland, No. 20-60749 (5th Cir. June 7, 2022)

• prison mailbox rule; conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; INA § 101(a)(43)(U)/(M); restitution; loss to the victim

Monsonyem v. Garland, No. 20-60952 (5th Cir. June 7, 2022)

• crime of child abuse; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); Tex. Pen. Code § 22.04(a)(3); divisibility; affirmative defense; jury instructions; Mathis peak

6/06/22

Lopez-Perez v. Garland, No. 20-60131 (5th Cir. June 1, 2022)

• domestic violence based asylum claims; Jaco v. Garland; A-R-C-G-; failure to file a brief with the BIA; futility of remand; El Salvador

Bertrand v. Garland, No. 19-60620 (5th Cir. June 3, 2022)

• unable or unwilling to protect; police reports; Matter of O-Z- & I-Z-; complete helplessness; Patel; voodoo; Haiti

5/30/22

USA v. Jimenez-Shilon, No. 20-13139 (11th Cir. May 23, 2022)

• 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)(A); right of “the people” to bear arms

Nunez v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2651 (3d Cir. May 26, 2022)

• endangering the welfare of a child in the third degree, in violation of N.J. Stat. § 2C:24-4(a)(1); use and definition of “would”; crime of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); likelihood of harm; tendency for harm; capacity to harm

Cardona-Franco v. Garland, No. 19-60789 (5th Cir. May 24, 2022)

• credibility; IJ bias; exhaustion; motion to reconsider; previously available evidence

Li v. Garland, No. 21-3328 (8th Cir. May 27, 2022)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; Chinese Christian; Matter of F-S-N-; prima facie case

5/23/22

Patel v. Garland, No. 20-979 (U.S. May 16, 2022)

• jurisdiction to review five types of discretionary relief; statutory interpretation; false claim to citizenship; agency power

Saint Ford v. Att’y Gen U.S., No. 21-1729 (3d Cir. May 16, 2022)

• ineffective assistance of counsel motion to reopen; corroboration; prejudice; truth of statements in motion; Platform Petit Dessalines (PPD); Haiti

Argueta-Orellana v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-1581 (3d Cir. May 20, 2022)

• failure to file a brief with BIA; regulatory interpretation; 8 C.F.R. § 1003.l(d)(2)(i)(E)

Ali v. Garland, No. 21-1296 (1st Cir. May 5, 2022)

• evidence in totality; private actors; security forces; Al-Shabaab; CAT; Somalia

Fon v. Garland, No. 20-73166 (9th Cir. May 18, 2022)

• asylum; past persecution; nexus; standard of review; Anglophone; Cameroon

Olea-Serefina v. Garland, No. 20-72231 (9th Cir. May 19, 2022)

• aggravated felony crime of violence; § 101(a)(43)(F); § 16(a); corporal injury upon a child in violation of Cal. Pen Code § 273d(a); term of imprisonment; violent force; use of the word “an”; old state case law; continuances

Nkenglefac v. Garland, No. 19-60647 (5th Cir. May 18, 2022)

• asylum; credibility; extra-record evidence; credible fear interview; discrepancies; opportunity to explain; SCNC; Cameroon

Vasquez-De Martinez v. Garland, No. 21-60856 (5th Cir. May 16, 2022)

• extensions of time; motion to dismiss; voluntary dismissal; Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 42

Arreola-Ochoa v. Garland, No. 21-1179 (7th Cir. May 17, 2022)

• deficient NTA; prejudice; timeliness; dismissal; claims processing rule

5/19/22

Ed and Liz take us through the case and settlement Dong, et al. v. Johnson, et al., Case No. 17-2092-ES-JSA—a class-action lawsuit which challenged various actions and conduct of the U.S. Government related to the University of Northern New Jersey (“UNNJ”). UNNJ was a fake university set up by DHS. After over five years of litigation, the lawsuit has now settled, and the Court has approved the parties’ Settlement Agreement. Rejoice!

Links!:

• Everything you need to know about the lawsuit and settlement
• AMENDED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
• NOTICE OF PROPOSED CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT
• About Ed
• About Liz

5/16/22

Matter of B-Z-R-, 28 I&N Dec. 563 (A.G. 2022)

• mental health; Matter of G-G-S-; particularly serious crime

Kithongo v. Garland, No. 21-2662 (7th Cir. May 9, 2022)

• particularly serious crime; conspiracy to commit robbery; violent crimes; Matter of N-A-M-; jurisdiction; exhaustion; case processing rule; actually argued

Tojin-Tiu v. Garland, No. 21-2269 (8th Cir. May 12, 2022)

• family-based particular social group; fear of gangs; persecution Guatemala

Jang v. Garland, No. 19-4289 (2d Cir. May 9, 2022)

• CIMT; attempted second-degree money laundering; N.Y. Penal L. § 470.15(1)(b)(ii)(A); Matter of Tejwani; intent to defraud; knowing mens rea

Pena-Lopez v. Garland, No. 20-60911 (5th Cir. May 12, 2022)

• mixed question of law and fact; jurisdiction; VAWA motion to reopen; VAWA cancellation of removal; extraordinary circumstances or extreme hardship to the noncitizen’s child; Guerrero-Lasprilla; INA § 242(a)(2)(D)

Priva v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-12521 (11th Cir. May 12, 2022)

• reasonable fear proceedings; right to counsel; due process; substantial prejudice; Nasrallah factual findings; Haiti

Lopez Morales v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-14054 (11th Cir. May 11, 2022)

• exhaustion; asylum; reasoned consideration; Mayan race; Mam; Guatemala

5/09/22

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U.S. v. Begay, No. 14-10080 (9th Cir. May 5, 2022) (en banc)

• crime of violence; recklessness; Borden

Udo v. Garland, No. 20-70078 (9th Cir. May 4, 2022)

• credibility; frivolous asylum finding; deliberate fabrication; materiality; gay men; homosexuality; consideration of all evidence; adverse credibility and Convention Against Torture; Nigeria

Matter of German Santos, 28 I&N Dec. 552 (BIA 2022)

• Penn. Cons. Stat. § 780-113(a)(30); INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); divisibility; sentence enhancement; modified categorical approach; non-LPR cancellation; DUI; discretion; Matter of Laguerre

Alvarez v. Garland, No. 22-6021 (2d Cir. May 5, 2022)

• violation of a court protection order; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(ii); in forma pauperis motion; first-degree contempt of court in violation of N.Y. Penal L. § 215.51; circumstance specific approach

5/02/22

Matter of Dang, 28 I&N Dec. 541 (BIA 2022)

• misdemeanor domestic abuse battery with child endangerment in violation of LA Stat. § 14:35.3(I); crime of domestic violence; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); physical force; 18 U.S.C. § 16(a); Castleman, Stokeling

Bhaktibhai-Patel v. Garland, No. 19-2565 (2d Cir. Apr. 27, 2022)

• jurisdiction; final order; finality; withholding only proceedings; reinstatement; INA § 101(a)(47); illegal reentry; due process; Thuraissigiam

Hernandez-Ortiz v. Garland, No. 16-72752 (9th Cir. Apr. 26, 2022)

• motion to reopen; equitable tolling; ineffective assistance of counsel; prejudice; egregious; drug cartels; Mexico

Gutierrez-Zavala v. Garland, No. 20-73398 (9th Cir. Apr. 26, 2022)

• reinstatement; jurisdiction; Chenery Doctrine; motion to reopen

Salat v. Garland, No. 20-2662 (8th Cir. Apr. 28, 2022)

• CAT deferral; factfinding; internally displaced person camp; IDP camp; mental health illness; mental health facility; Somaliland; Somalia

4/27/22

About Hidden Dream:

The Hidden Dream was built to raise awareness of the struggles faced by visa immigrants, share resources, and create a community to uplift immigrants who have spent several years in this country without a pathway to citizenship.

The Hidden Dream specializes in creating resources for childhood visa arrivals – children who entered the country on H4, L2, E2 etc. visas and are at risk of deportation.

The Hidden Dream serves visa immigrants (including visa dreamers, dependent visa spouses, families affected by the Green Card backlog, mixed status families and international students) by compiling and creating resources, guides, hosting workshops + support groups, providing a safe space for visa immigrants on social media, offering an annual scholarship, and creating crucial networking opportunities.

Links!:

• The Hidden Dream’s website
• About Sumana and Harishree
• THD Survival Guide
• Donate

4/25/22

Aaliyah The Brave: Empowering Children Coping with Immigration Enforcement, by Rekha Sharma-Crawford, Esq.

• Pre-order on Amazon, here!
• About the book
• About the author: https://sharma-crawford.com/attorney-profiles/

Barros v. Garland, No. 21-1335 (1st Cir. Apr. 19, 2022)

• LPR cancellation of removal; discretion; dead fish standard of review; exhaustion; jurisdiction; requirement to file motion to reconsider with BIA

Matter of Dingus, 28 I&N Dec. 529 (BIA 2022)

• nunc pro tunc changes to convictions; vacatur; modification; distribution of a controlled substance in violation of VA Code § 18.2-248; Matter of Pickering; burdens; Thomas and Thompson; salvinorin A

Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 20-60008 (5th Cir. Apr. 19, 2022)

• in absentia motion to reopen; deficient NTA; Niz Chavez; INA § 239(a)

4/18/22

Ibarra Chevez v. Garland, No. 20-1576 (4th Cir. Apr. 15, 2022)

• CAT; torture in the aggregate; relocation; Decree 717; mixed question of law and fact; standards of review; no need for motion to reconsider; MS-13; El Salvador

Sanchez-Amador v. Garland, No. 20-60367 (5th Cir. Apr. 11, 2022)

• unable or unwilling to protect; sexual assault; extortion; MS-13; Honduras

4/11/22

Boch-Saban v. Garland, No. 20-60540 (5th Cir. Apr. 8, 2022)

• equitable tolling; motion to reopen; appeal to BIA; self-certification; Matter of Liadov

Arreguin v. Garland, No. 20-2431 (8th Cir. Apr. 4, 2022)

• asylum; vigilante group; disappearance; corroboration; immediate family; nuclear family; nexus; C-T-L-; opportunity to explain; motion to reopen; Mexico

Camacho-Valdez v. Garland, No. 21-3112 (7th Cir. Apr. 6, 2022)

• sanctions; fines; attorney misconduct; docketing fee; in forma pauperis

Hernandez-Serrano v. Garland, No. 20-3175 (6th Cir. Apr. 7, 2022)

• administrative closure; en banc; vacatur; motion to vacation; mediation

4/04/22

Gonzalez Aguilar v. Garland, No. 18-9570 (10th Cir. Mar. 29, 2022)

• asylum; transgender woman; transgender adults; pattern or practice of persecution; Department of State country condition report; corruption; law enforcement efforts; unable or unwilling; corruption; Honduras

Matter of S. Wong, 28 I&N Dec. 518 (BIA 2022)

• definition of conviction under INA § 101(a)(48)(A); constitutional floor; disorderly persons offense of theft by deception in violation of N.J. Stat. § 2C:20-4(a); CIMT; fraud; forgery in the second degree in violation of N.Y. Pen. L. § 170.10

Jama v. Garland, No. 21-1585 (8th Cir. Mar. 30, 2022)

• CAT; Awrtable tribe; pidgin Somali; Somali Christian; mental illness; Somalia

Paredes Gonzales v. Garland, No. 20-2964 (8th Cir. Apr. 1, 2022)

• CAT; Interpol Red Notice; business disputes; prison conditions and torture; Bolivia

Kakar v. USCIS, No. 20-1512 (2d Cir. Mar. 28, 2022)

• INA § 212(a)(3)(B)(iii)(V); asylum; terrorism; APA; weapons bar; material support bar; duress exception; Chenery; estoppel; res judicata; Taliban; Afghanistan

3/28/22

Ep. 100 thank yous, and TPS update!

Said v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 21-12917 (11th Cir. Mar. 24, 2022)

• possession of marijuana in violation of Fla. Stat. § 893.13(6)(a); Matter of Guaderrama; realistic probability test; relevant divisibility; modified categorical approach; Ramos; Moncrieffe

Tazu v. Att’y Gen. U.S., et al., 975 F.3d 292 (3d Cir. 2020)

• waivers; jurisdiction; habeas; INA § 242(g); INA § 242(b)(9); detention; challenging execution of removal order

Julmice v. Garland, No. 21-1177 (4th Cir. Mar. 23, 2022)

• INA § 237(a)(1)(H) waiver; deceased qualifying relative; statutory interpretation; Chevron deference; present tense; Matter of Federiso

3/21/22

Matter of C. Morgan, 28 I&N Dec. 508 (BIA 2022)

• attempt to commit larceny, Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-124, 53a-49; INA § 101(a)(43)(U)aggravated felony; theft offense as defined at INA § 101(a)(43)(G); divisibility; means; fraud and theft; trickery; knowing consent; Reyes

Lauture v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-13165 (11th Cir. Mar. 17, 2022)

• CIMT; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(i); burglary of an unoccupied dwelling; Fla. Stat. § 810.02(3)(b); divisibility; aggravated felony theft and crime of violence; Mathis peak; realistic probability test; occupied dwelling

Cupete v. Garland, No. 20-3441 (2d Cir. Mar. 16, 2022)

• CIMT; impair government function; 18 U.S.C. § 1001; Matter of Pinzon; deficient NTA; jurisdiction

Garcia v. Garland, No. 19-60793 (5th Cir. Mar. 14, 2022)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; deficient NTA; LGBT; HIV positive; Mexico

Hernandez Garmendia v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 203211 (3d Cir. Mar. 16, 2022)

• asylum; CAT; due process; exhaustion; mental competency; indicia of incompetency; Matter of M-A-M-; El Salvador

Hernandez v. Garland, No. 20-3575 (8th Cir. Mar. 18, 2022)

• • good moral character; non-LPR cancellation of removal; sufficiency of BIA decision; alcohol

3/14/22

Into + Wooden v. U.S., No. 20-5279 (U.S. Mar. 7, 2022)

• Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA); different occasions; single scheme of criminal misconduct; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(ii); CIMT

Oluwajana v. Garland, No. 21-1804 (7th Cir. Mar. 9, 2022)

• due process; motion to extend briefing deadline; motion to accept untimely brief; abuse of discretion; general remand by OIL; EOIR FOIA

Matter of M-M-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 494 (BIA 2022)

• frivolous asylum finding; sufficiency of IJ factual findings; regulations as a whole; regulatory interpretation; discretion

Valdez Amador v. Garland, No. 13-71406 (9th Cir. Mar. 9, 2022)

• INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i) crime of domestic violence; corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant; Cal. Pen. Code § 273.5(a); rape of an unconscious person; Cal. Pen. Code § 261(a)(4); divisibility; Mathis; INA § 101(a)(43)(A)

Fakhuri v. Garland, No. 19-60275 (5th Cir. Mar. 11, 2022)

• categorical approach; divisibility; elements; different criminal punishments; aggravated felony; attempt; money laundering; INA § 101(a)(43)(U); § 101(a)(43)(D); Tenn. Code § 39-14-101; Tenn. Code § 39-14-903

Iyawe v. Garland, et al., No. 20-3088 (8th Cir. Mar. 11, 2022)

• • I-130 petition; INA § 204(c); APA; arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; deference to prior USCIS decision

3/14/22

Into + Wooden v. U.S., No. 20-5279 (U.S. Mar. 7, 2022)

• Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA); different occasions; single scheme of criminal misconduct; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(ii); CIMT

Oluwajana v. Garland, No. 21-1804 (7th Cir. Mar. 9, 2022)

• due process; motion to extend briefing deadline; motion to accept untimely brief; abuse of discretion; general remand by OIL; EOIR FOIA

Matter of M-M-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 494 (BIA 2022)

• frivolous asylum finding; sufficiency of IJ factual findings; regulations as a whole; regulatory interpretation; discretion

Valdez Amador v. Garland, No. 13-71406 (9th Cir. Mar. 9, 2022)

• INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i) crime of domestic violence; corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant; Cal. Pen. Code § 273.5(a); rape of an unconscious person; Cal. Pen. Code § 261(a)(4); divisibility; Mathis; INA § 101(a)(43)(A)

Fakhuri v. Garland, No. 19-60275 (5th Cir. Mar. 11, 2022)

• categorical approach; divisibility; elements; different criminal punishments; aggravated felony; attempt; money laundering; INA § 101(a)(43)(U); § 101(a)(43)(D); Tenn. Code § 39-14-101; Tenn. Code § 39-14-903

Iyawe v. Garland, et al., No. 20-3088 (8th Cir. Mar. 11, 2022)

• • I-130 petition; INA § 204(c); APA; arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; deference to prior USCIS decision

3/07/22

Intro + Duarte et al. v. Mayorkas, No. 18-20784 (5th Cir. Mar. 3, 2022)

• advance parole; admitted; TPS; arriving alien

Arreaga Bravo v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-3300 (3rd Cir. Mar. 2, 2022)

• clear error review; IJ fact finding; rape; CAT; Guatemala

Rivera Menjivar v. Garland, No. 21-1624 (8th Cir. Mar. 3, 2022)

• asylum; due process; similarly situated family members; evangelical Christian; gangs; El Salvador

Salcido Mar v. Garland, No. 20-3426 (8th Cir. Feb. 28, 2022)

• sua sponte motion to reopen; jurisdiction

Silva v. Garland, No. 20-1593 (1st Cir. Feb. 28, 2022)

• INA § 101(a)(43)(S); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 274, § 4; law relating to obstruction of justice; statutory interpretation; Valenzuela Gallardo

Silva v. Garland, No. 20-1593 (1st Cir. Feb. 28, 2022)

• INA § 101(a)(43)(S); Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 274, § 4; law relating to obstruction of justice; statutory interpretation; Valenzuela Gallardo

Martinez-Guevara v. Garland, No. 20-60624 (5th Cir. Mar. 3, 2022)

• exhaustion; reconsider; changed country conditions motions to reopen; in absentia

Raymundo Morales v. Garland, No. 20-60919 (5th Cir. Mar. 4, 2022)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal; family separation; hardship

Gregorio-Osorio v. Garland, No. 20-60478 (5th Cir. Mar. 4, 2022)

• deficient NTA; post-conclusion voluntary departure; Posos-Sanchez; M-F-O-

Toledo-Vasquez v. Garland, No. 20-1849 (4th Cir. Mar. 2, 2022)

• nexus; family-based particular social group; asylum; persecution by group member; Mexico

Garcia Hernandez v. Garland, No. 20-1678 (4th Cir. Mar. 2, 2022)

• changed country condition vs. regular motion to reopen; extending one-year filing deadline after asylum application filed

2/28/22

Zarate v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-11654 (11th Cir. Feb. 18, 2022)

• CIMT; falsely representing a social security number; 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(7)(B); fraud or deceit; crimes against the government; least culpable conduct; false statement; intent to deceive; Pereida; burdens

Matter of T-C-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 472 (BIA 2022)

• INA § 209(b); asylee and refugee adjustment of status; “granted”; definition of “status”; statutory interpretation; particularly serious crime; financial crime; CAT; Albania

Adeyanju v. Garland, No. 21-1045 (1st Cir. Feb. 24, 2022)

• factual vs. discretionary; BIA review; Arai; H-L-H- & Z-Y-Z-; reweighing evidence; I-751; visa fraud; police reports; clear error; dead fish

Lopez-Perez v. Garland, No. 21-1057 (1st Cir. Feb. 22, 2022)

• asylum; one year filing deadline; factual vs. legal challenge; wealthy merchants; Mam; Guatemala

B.R. v. Garland, No. 19-70386 (9th Cir. Feb. 23, 2022)

• termination; regulatory violations; due process; service of NTA on minor; egregious constitutional violation; evidence of alienage; CAT; drug cartels; Mexico

2/21/22

Mejia-Velasquez v. Garland, No. 20-1192 (4th Cir. Feb. 15, 2022)

• biometrics notice; Matter of D-M-C-P-; definition of notice; Kisor deference; regulatory interpretation; preamble; due process; foreign language interpretation

Ortiz Narez v. Garland, Nos. 19-72039, 20-71416 (9th Cir. Feb. 16, 2022)

• CIMT; CA voluntary manslaughter; categorical approach; scienter; recklessness

Ferreiras v. Garland, No. 19-4111 (2d Cir. Feb. 17, 2022)

• CIMT, NY petit larceny, certification; categorical approach; Diaz-Lizarraga; permanent deprivation; substantial erosion of property rights

Xu v. Garland, No. 19-1044 (1st Cir. Feb. 18, 2022)

• Final Administrative Removal Order (“FARO”); expedited removal; MA “keeping a house of ill fame”; MA money laundering; prostitution aggravated felony; jurisdiction; China; CAT deferral; 8 C.F.R. § 103.5(a)(5)(i); favorable circumstances

Gomez-Abrego v. Garland, No. 20-2175 (1st Cir. Feb. 16, 2022)

• Asylum; withholding; CAT; El Salvador; particular social group; nexus; gangs; police; exhaustion; ultra vires

Deng Chol v. Garland, No. 20-3268 (8th Cir. Feb. 16, 2022)

• CAT; South Sudan; Uganda; conscription; tribal definition; pro se; due process; prejudice; exhaustion

2/14/22

USA v. Rodriguez-Flores, No. 21-40277 (5th Cir. Feb. 11, 2022)

• sexual assault of an adult under Tex. Pen. Code § 22.011(a)(1), (b); aggravated felony crime of violence; means/elements; divisibility

Ixcuna-Garcia v. Garland, No. 17-1867 (1st Cir. Feb. 8, 2022)

• adverse credibility; corroborating evidence; notice and opportunity to explain; Ren; L-A-C-; one-year asylum deadline; Ladino men; Mayan women; Guatemala

Thomas v. Garland, No. 20-2144 (1st Cir. Feb. 8, 2022)

• adjustment of status; discretion; police reports; drug arrest; fundamental fairness

Hesso v. Garland, No. 20-3737 (8th Cir. Feb. 9, 2022)

• in absentia motion to reopen; sufficiency of evidence; presumption of delivery

Iredia v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 21-1379 (3d Cir. Feb. 11, 2022)

• arriving alien; advance parole; applicant for admission; INA § 212(a)(7)(A)(i)(I); TPS; Ortiz-Bouchet

Ruiz-Colmenares v. Garland, No. 20-72672 (9th Cir. Feb. 9, 2022)

• CAT deferral; fear of robbery and kidnapping; credibility; deficient Notice of Referral to IJ; Mexico

Tzompantzi-Salazar v. Garland, No. 20-71514 (9th Cir. Feb. 9, 2022)

• CAT protection; fear of robbery and kidnapping; credibility; deficient Notice of Referral; relocation; burdens; Mexico

Ojo v. Garland, No. 19-3237 (2d Cir. Feb. 9, 2022)

• asylum; one-year deadline; extraordinary vs. changed circumstances; discretion; particularly serious crime; crimes against persons; conspiracy to commit wire fraud and use identification documents unlawfully Dai; pro se exhaustion; expert report; criminal deportees; prison conditions; Nigeria

2/7/22

Tomas-Ramos v. Garland, No. 20-1201 (4th Cir. Feb. 2, 2022)

• reasonable fear review; standard of review; facially legitimate and bona fide reason; family-based particular social group; relocation; gangs; Guatemala

He v. Garland, No. 20-1328 (8th Cir. Feb. 4, 2022)

• asylum; past persecution; well-founded fear of persecution; house church; inability to practice religion; Christian; China

Singh v. Garland, No. 20-70050 (9th Cir. Feb. 4, 2022)

• in absentia motion to reopen; deficient NTA; statutory interpretation; Rodriguez; Laparra

Matter of F-R-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 460 (BIA 2022)

• circumstance specific approach; amount of loss; INA § 101(a)(43)(M)(i); restitution; forfeiture under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C); conspiracy; victim identity; reliability of evidence; INA § 101(a)(43)(U); particularly serious crime; Ghana

1/31/22

Osmani v. Garland, No. 20-3318 (7th Cir. Jan. 24, 2022)

• jurisdiction; discretion; refugee waiver; INA 209(c); burdens; discretionary relief; motion to remand; impermissible fact finding

Dai v. Garland, No. 21-1315 (7th Cir. Jan. 24, 2022)

• adverse credibility; dates; inconsistencies; house church; Christianity; China

Matter of Koat, 28 I&N Dec. 450 (BIA 2022)

• aggravated felony theft offense; INA § 101(a)(43)(G); Iowa Code § 714.1; divisibility; Matter of Reyes; state legislative history; elements vs. means; disregarding state case law

Urrutia Robles v. Garland, No. 20-1504 (8th Cir. Jan. 26, 2022)

• motion to reopen; equitable tolling; cumulative evidence

Chamu v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-13908 (11th Cir. Jan. 26, 2022)

• law relating to a controlled substance; cocaine isomers; realistic probability test; Ramos; textual differences; mens rea and categorical approach

1/24/22

Ode to the Loaf

Da Graca v. Garland, No. 20-1607 (1st Cir. Jan. 18, 2022)

• Rhode Island Gen. L. § 31-9-1; INA § 101(a)(43)(G); aggravated felony theft offense; joyriding; realistic probability test; state statutory framework as a whole

Matter of Laguerre, 28 I&N Dec. 437 (BIA 2022)

• law relating to a controlled substance; INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); divisibility; N.J. Stat. § 2C:35-10(a)(1); elements vs. means; double jeopardy; Mathis peak; disregarding state case law

Matter of Laparra, 28 I&N Dec. 425 (BIA 2022)

• deficient NTA; in absentia motions to reopen; statutory interpretation; use of the word “the”; Niz-Chavez

USA v. Gomez Gomez, No. 17-20526 (5th Cir. Jan. 18, 2022)

• aggravated assault in violation of Tex. Pen. Code § 22.01(a)(1); Borden; aggravated felony crime of violence; 18 U.S.C. § 16(a); recklessness

Diaz Esparza v. Garland, No. 19-60699 (5th Cir. Jan. 17, 2022)

• CIMT; res judicata; recklessness; deadly conduct in violation of Tex. Pen. Code § 22.05(a); evading arrest with a motor vehicle in violation of Tex. Pen. Code § 38.04; admission and adjustment of status

1/17/22

Takwi v. Garland, No. 20-9595 (10th Cir. Jan. 10, 2022)

• explicit adverse credibility determination; rebuttable presumption; clean credibility; Matter of M-A-M- safeguards; Southern Cameroon National Council (SCNC)

Diaz Ortiz v. Garland, No. 19-1620 (1st Cir. Jan. 10, 2022) (en banc)

• asylum; evangelical Christians; adverse credibility; Gang Assessment Database; field interrogation observations; Boston police; inconsistencies; burdens; El Salvador; MS-13

Peulic v. Garland, No. 20-1587 (1st Cir. Jan. 11, 2022)

• refugee adjustment of status; INA § 209(c) waiver; Matter of Jean; void for vagueness; assault with a dangerous weapon, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 15B(b); asylum; Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bonilla v. Garland, No. 19-1165 (1st Cir. Jan 12, 2022)

• Record of Sworn Statement; reliability of government evidence; fundamental fairness; border interview; adverse credibility

Santos-Zacaria v. Garland, No. 19-60355 (5th Cir. Jan. 11, 2022)

• reasonable relocation; exhaustion; motion to reconsider; transgender; homosexuality; Guatemala

Guzman-Torralva v. Garland, No. 21-3360 (6th Cir. Jan. 13, 2022)

• ineffective assistance of counsel motion to reopen; Lozada; bar complaint

Jimenez-Sandoval v. Garland, No. 19-73193 (9th Cir. Jan. 13, 2022)

• in absentia motion to reopen; notice to minors; Flores-Chavez v. Ashcroft

Togonon v. Garland, No. 19-71693 (9th Cir. Jan. 10, 2022)

• INA § 101(a)(43)(E)(i); arson in violation of Cal. Pen. Code § 451(b); maliciously; mens rea; 18 U.S.C. § 844(i)

1/10/22

Cabrera v. Garland, No. 20-1943 (4th Cir. Jan. 6, 2022)

• continuance; U-visa; good cause standard; reputable presumption where collateral relief is prima facie approvable

Herrera-Martinez v. Garland, No. 20-1423 (4th Cir. Jan. 5, 2022)

• particular social group; prosecution witness; particularity; limiting language; fear of drug traffickers; credibility; Honduras

Aviles-Tavera v. Garland, No. 20-60587 (5th Cir. Jan. 4, 2022)

• particularly serious crime; Texas Assault – Family Violence; res judicata; issue preclusion; change in law; USA v. Fuentes-Rodriguez; crime of violence under § 16(a); motion to reopen

Mutua v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-13129 (11th Cir. Jan. 5, 2022)

• adjustment of status; discretion; standard of review; arrest but no conviction; administrative notice

1/03/22

Brito v. Garland, No. 20-1037 (1st Cir. Dec. 28, 2021)

• bond; class-wide injunction; burdens; standing; INA § 242(f); INA § 236(a)

Bogle v. Garland, No. 19-72290 (9th Cir. Dec. 29, 2021)

• “personal use” exception under INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); conviction under INA § 101(a)(48); circumstance specific approach; police report; Pereida v. Wilkinson

12/27/21

Nsimba v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-3565 (3d Cir. Dec. 22, 2021)

• pattern or practice of persecution; well-founded fear; similarly situated family members; Union for Democracy and Social Progress; summons vs. arrest warrant; corruption & persecution; difficulty obtaining evidence; physical harm not required; reasonable relocation; Congo

Yasin v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2509 (3d Cir. Dec. 20, 2021)

• VAWA motion to reopen; INA § 240(c)(7)(C)(iv)(III); discretion; INA § 242(a)(2)(B)(ii)

Ramirez-Medina v. Garland, No. 16-73325 (9th Cir. Dec. 22, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(b)(1)(C); multiple offenses; statutory interpretation; use of the singular; Dictionary Act; Pereida

Argueta Romero v. DHS, No. 20-12487 (11th Cir. Dec. 20, 2021)

• jurisdiction; “in custody”; habeas; INA § 242(a)(5); INA § 101(g); self-removal; statutory interpretation & lenity; Chevron deference; 8 U.S.C. § 1326; definition of deportation

Rodriguez-Jimenez v. Garland, No. 21-70064 (9th Cir. Dec. 21, 2021)

• due process; remand; prejudice; reviewing BIA decisions

Walcott v. Garland, No. 18-70393 (9th Cir. Dec. 22, 2021)

• CIMT; small amount of marijuana; least culpable conduct; drug trafficking; evolving definition of CIMT; societal norms; deference to CIMT definition; divisibility

12/20/21

Juras v. Garland, No. 19-3001 (2d Cir. Dec. 17, 2021)

• inadmissibility; withdrawal of application for admission; abandonment of LPR status; motion to reopen and underlying relief; jurisdiction

Garcia-Ortiz v. Garland, No. 20-3446 (8th Cir. Dec. 17, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(b); exceptional and extremely unusual hardship; suicide attempts; future hardship; Figueroa
• https://www.immigrantslist.org/

Singh v. Garland, No. 19-60937 (5th Cir. Dec. 17, 2021)

• due process; adverse credibility; IJ bias; extra-record evidence; Matter of R-K-K-; political opinion; persecution; Mann Party; BJP; India

Bonnet v. Garland, No. 19-2175 (1st Cir. Dec. 13, 2021))

• CAT protection; criminal deportees; drug offenses; discounting expert testimony; Haiti

Tomczyk v. Garland, No. 16-72926 (9th Cir. Dec. 14, 2021) (en banc)

• reinstatement; INA § 241(a)(5); illegal reentry; definition of illegal; entry; procedurally proper admission; waive through; statutory analysis; estoppel; retroactive reinstatement

12/13/21

Patel and G-G-S-

• Patel Oral Argument: Click me!
• Transcript

Ibrahim v. Garland, No. 20-60936 (5th Cir. Dec. 6, 2021)

• Louisiana Rev. Stat. § 14:81; indecent behavior with juveniles; aggravated felony; separate and apart bond proceedings; issue exhaustion; harmless error; administrative notice; law of the case doctrine

Chavez-Chilel v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 21-1180 (3d Cir. Dec. 9, 2021)

• gender-based asylum; particularity; deficient NTA; Niz-Chavez; termination; equity; Guatemala

12/6/21

Zometa-Orellana v. Garland, No. 21-0271 (6th Cir. Nov. 29, 2021)

• gender/domestic violence based asylum; Matter of A-B-; A-R-C-G-; sufficiency of BIA analysis; unable or unwilling to protect; reasonable relocation; El Salvador

Pugin v. Garland, No. 20-1363 (4th Cir. Nov. 30, 2021)

• aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(S); obstruction of justice; Chevron deference of criminal statute; ambiguity; Matter of Valenzuela Gallardo II; “relating to”; specific intent

Kumar v. Garland, No. 17-73412 (9th Cir. Nov. 30, 2021)

• adverse credibility; omissions; inconsistencies; recitation demeanor; injury speculation; totality of circumstances; Alam; asylum; BSP; India

Villegas-Castro v. Garland, No. 20-9593 (10th Cir. Dec. 2, 2021)

• IJ authority on BIA remand; amendment to asylum application; limiting language; sexual battery; particularly serious crime

Tarango-Delgado v. Garland, No. 19-9615 (10th Cir. Dec. 2, 2021)

• reinstatement; Padilla; motion to reopen; gross miscarriage of justice; nunc pro tunc; unclean hands; right to file motion to reopen

Spagnol-Bastos v. Garland, No. 20-60139 (5th Cir. Dec. 3, 2021)

• deficient NTA; in absentia motion to reopen; no-notice; updating address; Rodriguez v. Garland; Pereira and Niz-Chavez

12/2/21

Introduction

Interview with Jed Kurzban

Depositions and strategy

Direct testimony and cross-examination

How Justice is Served, by Jed Kurzban

Experts

Managing partner duties and closing remarks

11/29/21

Nababan v. Garland, No. 18-72548 (9th Cir. Nov. 23, 2021)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; evangelical Christians; Seventh Day Adventist; proselytizing; disfavored group; Indonesia

Jiang v. Garland, No. 19-1911 (2d Cir. Nov. 24, 2021)

• Order to Show Cause; non-LPR cancellation of removal; motion to reopen; stop time rule; Niz-Chavez; Pereira

Mbonga v. Garland, No. 21-0269 (6th Cir. Nov. 22, 2021)

• asylum; fundamental change in country conditions; burdens; change in political parties; Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch; State Department reports; the Union for Democracy and Social Progress; Congo

11/22/21

Jathursan v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-10003 (11th Cir. Nov. 17, 2021)

• asylum; failed asylum seeker; pattern or practice of persecution; failure to give reasoned consideration; issue exhaustion; CAT; Elam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP); Sri Lanka

Matter of A. Valenzuela, 28 I&N Dec. 418 (BIA 2021)

• aggravated felony crime of violence; INA § 101(a)(43)(F); violent force; 18 U.S.C. § 16(a); violence against property; carjacking in violation of Cal. Pen. Code § 215(a)

De Carvalho v. Garland, No. 20-1711 (1st Cir. Nov. 17, 2021)

• possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 94C § 32A(a); particularly serious crime; Matter of Y-L-; presumptions; CAT; police officers; Matter of R-A-F- and de novo review; Cape Verde

Maradia v. Garland, No. 20-60714 (5th Cir. Nov. 17, 2021)

• Order to Show Cause; in absentia motion to reopen; Niz-Chavez; Pereira

Goulart v. Garland, No. 19-72007 (9th Cir. Nov. 18, 2021)

• equitable tolling; change in law; motion to reconsider; fiery concurrences and dissents

11/15/21

rulnanthy v. Garland, No. 19-60760 (5th Cir. Nov. 8, 2021)

• CAT; credibility; credible fear interview transcript; interview summary; pattern or practice; ignoring evidence; Sri Lanka

Lopez Vazquez v. Garland, No. 18-70329 (9th Cir. Nov. 12, 2021)

• reinstatement; gross miscarriage of justice; valid removal order at time of removal; benzylfentanyl

11/8/21

Cantor v. Garland, No. 19-73085 (9th Cir. Nov. 3, 2021)

• motion to reopen; non-LPR cancellation of removal; stop-time rule; statutory interpretation

Matter of M-F-O-, 28 I&N Dec. 408 (BIA 2021)

• deficient NTA; post-conclusion voluntary departure; INA § 240B(b); Posos-Sanchez; Viera-Garcia and Ordonez-Viera; Mendoza-Hernandez and Capula-Cortes; asylum; withholding nexus standard; indigenous; gang recruitment; Guatemala

Usubakunov v. Garland, No. 18-72974 (9th Cir. Nov. 1, 2021)

• continuance; due process; right to counsel; detention conditions; continuances during the holidays; asylum; Kyrgyzstan

Gomes v. Garland, No. 20-2106 (1st Cir. Nov. 3, 2021)

• asylum; workers’ rights movements; Red Notice; exhaustion; in absentia conviction; bribes; extortion; Brazil

VHV Jewelers, LLC v. Wolf, et al., No. 20-14788 (11th Cir. Nov. 1, 2021)

• L-1A nonimmigrant visa; new office petition; executive; “direct”; manage a manager; APA; weighing evidence

Mashilingi v. Garland, No. 20-2169 (1st Cir. Nov. 2, 2021)

• credibility; totality; visa applications; authenticating foreign public documents; asylum; Rwanda

Granados v. Garland, No. 20-2028 (4th Cir. Nov. 4, 2021)

• CIMT; eluding in violation of Va. Code § 46.2-817(B); constitutionality; nondelegation doctrine; willful and wanton; mens rea for CIMT; recklessness; meaning of “so as”; affirmative defense

11/1/21

James v. Garland, No. 20-1666 (1st Cir. Oct. 25, 2021)

• equitable tolling; claims processing rule; pro se appeals; filing deadline; at 8 C.F.R. § 1003.38(b)

Valle v. DOS, No. 19-14889 (11th Cir. Oct. 26, 2021)

• doctrine of consular nonreviewability; subject matter jurisdiction; facially legitimate and bona fide for visa denial

Jaco v. Garland, No 20-60081 (5th Cir. Oct. 27, 2021)

• A-R-C-G-; anti-circularity; A-B-­; domestic violence; non-married women; Chevron deference; social distinction; unable to leave; particular social group; Honduras

Pineda-Teruel v. Garland, No. 20-3516 (7th Cir. Oct. 27, 2021

• withholding of removal; landowners; pro se; Quintero v. Garland; persecutors in U.S.; Honduras

Mabuneza v. Garland, No. 20-1799 (7th Cir. Oct. 28, 2021)

• CAT deferral; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Tutsi; recent deportees; detention; Matter of J-R-G-P-; prison conditions; intent to torture; motion to reconsider

Arreaga-Bravo v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-3300 (3d Cir. Oct. 28, 2021)

• CAT; standard of review; clearly erroneous; overturning IJ; mixed question of law and fact; willful blindness; Guatemalan women; Mara 18; Guatemala

10/25/21

Chavez Gonzalez v. Garland, No. 20-1924 (4th Cir. Oct. 20, 2021)

• termination; Matter of S-O-G- & F-D-B-; IJ inherent authority; Auer/Kisor deference; administrative closure

Lopez Troche v. Garland, No. 20-1718 (1st Cir. Oct. 18, 2021)

• adverse credibility standard; attorney inconsistency; reporting to police; withholding and CAT; HIV; LGBTQ; Honduras

10/21/21

Introduction

Interview with Bashir Ghazialam

Immigration situation in Afghanistan and how to assist the people of Afghanistan

Links to assist the people of Afghanistan (not affiliated with the podcast or Bashir):

• CAIR San Diego
• Miry’s List
• Form I-134, Affidavit of Support
• NPR: The Simple Steps You Can Take Right Now To Help Afghan Refugees
• PBS: How you can help Afghan refugees arriving in the U.S.

10/18/21

Liang v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-3353 (3d Cir. Oct. 12, 2021)

• past persecution; totality or cumulative analysis; standard of review; mixed question of law and fact; China; Christian

Matter of Kagumbas, 28 I&N Dec. 400 (BIA 2021)

• I-130 petition; bonafide marriage; adequate transcript of hearing; indiscernible

Chery, et. al v. Garland, Nos. 18-1036, 19-223 (2d Cir. Oct. 15, 2021)

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-277(a); controlled substance offense; aggravated felony drug trafficking; categorical approach; different punishments; same punishments; divisibility; state supreme court; Niz-Chavez, deficient NTAs, and jurisdiction; Appendix change of law suggestion

10/11/21

Hernandez-Hernandez v. Garland, No. 21-3210 (6th Cir. Oct. 4, 2021)

• economic persecution; Guatemala; K’iche

Ramos Rafael v. Garland, No. 21-0233 (6th Cir. Oct. 7, 2021)

• waiver of argument; unable or unwilling to protect; NTA deficiencies; Pereira and Niz-Chavez; due process; prejudice

Amaya v. Garland, No. 18-70060 (9th Cir. Oct. 7, 2021)

• Valdivia-Flores; first-degree assault under Washington Revised Code § 9A.36; categorical approach; accomplice; aiding and abetting; mens rea; general intent; crime of violence; Borden; MS-13

Murry v. Garland, No. 20-3109 (7th Cir. Oct. 7, 2021)

• asylum; past persecution; gay men; anti-sodomy laws; Jamaica; failure to report harm

Nyandwi v. Garland, No. 20-3215 (7th Cir. Oct. 8, 2021)

• CAT deferral; cumulative or aggregate risk; holistic approach; statistical analysis; Burundi; Twa

10/4/21

Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 20-60008 (5th Cir. Sept. 27, 2021)

• in absentia motion to reopen; deficient NTA; Niz Chavez; INA § 239(a)

Nolasco-Amaya v. Garland, No. 20-70187 (9th Cir. Sept. 28, 2021)

• due process; pro se appeals; notice of appeal; putting BIA on notice; summary dismissal

9/27/21

Ghanem v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-1475 (3d Cir. Sept. 22, 2021)

• asylum; political opinion; nexus; mixed-motive; tribal; ignoring evidence; corroboration; reasonable explanation; CAT; Matter of J-F-F-; hypotheticals; Houthi; Yemen

Abushagif v. Garland, No. 19-60807 (5th Cir. Sept. 24, 2021)

• motion to reopen; changed country conditions; affidavits; inherently believable; burdens; asylum; CAT; Libya

Matter of Arambula-Bravo, 28 I&N Dec. 388 (BIA 2021)

• NTA; jurisdiction; Niz-Chavez; Pereira; parole termination; charging document; 8 C.F.R. § 212.5(e)(2)(i); 8 C.F.R. § 1003.13; INA § 274(A)(1)(a)(ii); aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(N); alien smuggling

Tino v. Garland, No. 20-3508 (8th Cir. Sept. 20, 2021)

• Pereira; Niz-Chavez; jurisdiction; NTA; asylum; Guatemala; gangs

Berdiev v. Garland, No. 20-9542 (10th Cir. Sept. 21, 2021)

• sua sponte motion to reopen; equitable tolling; ineffective assistance of counsel; due diligence; Matter of Zmijewska; ten-year bar for failure to voluntarily depart; Chenery

Alfred v. Garland, No. 19-72903 (9th Cir. Sept. 22, 2021)

• Valdivia-Flores; Washington robbery; categorical approach; accomplice; aiding and abetting

Li v. Garland, No. 18-70943 (9th Cir. Sept. 21, 2021)

• adverse credibility; omissions; inconsistencies; Iman v. Barr; totality; respondent confusion and sloppy testimony; misuse of pronouns; China; house church; misrepresentation in application

Cui v. Garland, No. 18-72030 (9th Cir. Sept. 23, 2021)

• motion to reopen; in absentia; exceptional circumstances; appeal of in absentia removal order; immigration court mistakes; Matter of Guzman-Arguera

9/20/21

Matter of N-V-G-, 28 I&N Dec. 380 (BIA 2021)

• INA § 212(h) waiver; Minn. Stat. § 609.222(1); refugee adjustment of status under INA § 209; admission; lawfully admitted for permanent residence; legislative history; crime of domestic violence; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); crime of violence aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(F)

Alcaraz-Enriquez v. Garland, No. 15-71553 (9th Cir. Sept. 16, 2021)

• fundamental fairness; INA § 240(b)(4)(B); probativeness of evidence; admissibility of evidence; DHS burdens; right to cross examination; hearsay; credibility; Dai; particularly serious crime

9/13/21

Gayles v. Warden, et al., No. 19-3241 (3d Cir. Sept. 3, 2021)

• mandatory detention; due process; Josephhearing; burdens; INA § 242(f)(1)

Farah v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12462 (11th Cir. Sept. 8, 2021)

• prolonged detention; habeas; INA § 241(a); Akinwale; controlled substance; Minn. Stat. §§ 152.025, 609.222; aggravated felony crime of violence; Matter of Jean; refugee adjustment § 209; “reasoned consideration”; withholding & CAT; Somalia

Talamantes-Enriquez v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-15080 (11th Cir. Sept. 9, 2021)

• aggravated felony; crime of violence; physical force; divisibility; charging document; post-conviction relief; ignoring state court judge actions

Sasay v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-1273 (3d Cir. Sept. 10, 2021)

• CIMT; intent to defraud; divisibility; Matter of Serna; 18 U.S.C. § 1028A(a); aiding and abetting

Marquez v. Garland, No. 18-3363 (2d Cir. Sept. 7, 2021)

• crime of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment; Matter of Soram; retroactivity; N.Y. Pen. L. § 260.10(1)

Diaz-Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 13-73719 (9th Cir. Sept. 10, 2021)

• crime of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment; unitary concept; criminal negligence; Matter of Soram; Cal. Pen. Code § 273a(a); Chevron; statutory interpretation; deference to panel

Benedicto v. Garland, No. 18-73237 (9th Cir. Sept. 9, 2021)

• mental illness; mental health; Matter of M-A-M-; Matter of M‑J-K-; due process; qualified representative; termination; CAT; Dominican Republic

Iraheta-Martinez v. Garland, No. 18-72692 (9th Cir. Sept. 7, 2021)

• withholding-only; due process; reinstatement; exhaustion; futility; constitutional claims; statutory interpretation; “notwithstanding clause”; MS-13; LGBTQ; gang opposition; El Salvador

Alam v. Garland, No. 19-72744 (9th Cir. Sept. 8, 2021) (en banc)

• credibility; “single factor rule”; totality of the circumstances; lie

Etemadi v. Garland, No. 18-72318 (9th Cir. Sept. 9, 2021)

• law-of-the-case; credibility; inconsistencies; falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus; error of fact; document authenticity; CAT; affidavits; Christianity; Iran; waiver/exhaustion; changed conditions; frivolous finding

9/6/21

Singh v. Att’y Gen U.S., No. 20-1778 (3d Cir. Aug. 31, 2021)

• aggravated felony; controlled substance offense; “alien” at time of offense; Costello; Rossi;denaturalization; rule of lenity; statutory interpretation; Chevron; ambiguity; reasonable interpretation

B.C. v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-1408 (3d Cir. Sept. 1, 2021)

• credibility; inconsistency; asylum; memorizing testimony; Pidgin English; sue process; right to interpreter; Cameroon

Rodriguez-Ramirez v. Garland, No. 19-70506 (9th Cir. Sept. 1, 2021)

• adverse credibility; standard of review; inconsistency; omission

Giha v. Garland, No. 15-73085 (9th Cir. Sept. 2, 2021)

• derivative citizenship; burden shifting framework; summary judgment; common law marriage and separation in Peru

Gutierrez v. Garland, No. 19-60408 (5th Cir. Aug. 31, 2021)

• convention against torture; government acquiesce; willful blindness; MS-13; Honduras

8/30/21

Munyuh v. Garland, No. 19-72890 (9th Cir. Aug. 25, 2021)

• adverse credibility; cherry-picking; inconsistencies; sexual violence; rape; Cameroon

Orozco-Lopez, et al. v. Garland, No. 20-70127 (9th Cir. Aug. 25, 2021)

• reinstatement; reasonable fear proceedings; reasonable fear appeal; right to counsel; prejudice;  rule of lenity; statutory construction

Afanador v. Garland, No. 17-70127 (9th Cir. Aug. 27, 2021)

• retroactivity; CIMT; moral turpitude; Cal. Pen. Code § 314.1;Matter of Cortes Medina

Singh v. Garland, No. 19-704 (2d Cir. Aug. 25, 2021)

• asylum; reasonable relocation; Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar; Mann party; Sikh; India

Mumad v. Garland, No. 20-2140 (8th Cir. Aug. 27, 2021)

• particularly serious crime; robbery; void for vagueness

Murugan v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-13715 (11th Cir. Aug. 24, 2021)

• asylum; past persecution; Tamil; Sri Lanka

8/23/21

Germain v. U.S. Att’y General, No. 20-11419 (11th Cir. Aug. 18, 2021)

• aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(P); relating to document fraud; 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a); cancellation of removal;

Lopez-Marroquin v. Garland, No. 18-72922 (9th Cir. Aug. 18, 2021)

• Veh. Code § 10851(a); categorical approach; divisibility; aggravated felony; 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(43)(G); Duenas-Alvarez v. Holder; Mathis v. United States

Guerrier v. Garland, No. 20-70115 (9th Cir. Aug. 16, 2021)

• jurisdiction; credible fear determination; expedited removal; colorable constitutional claim; due process; DHS v. Thuraissigiam

Flores-Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 19-70177 (9th Cir. Aug. 16, 2021)

• False claim to U.S. citizenship; INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(ii); adjustment of status; due process; prejudice

Dai v. Garland, No. 15-70776 (9th Cir. Aug. 20, 2021)

• Garland v. Dai;adverse credibility; presumption of credibility; deemed credible; persuasiveness

Liang v. Garland, No. 18-2257 (2d Cir. Aug. 19, 2021)

• Asylum; withholding of removal; Convention Against Torture; credibility; factual omission; factual inconsistency; substantial evidence

Sharma v. Garland, No. 20-70238 (9th Cir. Aug. 17, 2021)

• Asylum; withholding of removal; reasonable fear of persecution; Convention Against Torture; voluntary departure; jurisdiction

Villalobos Sura v. Garland, No. 20-71839 (9th Cir. Aug. 17, 2021)

• Withholding of removal; serious nonpolitical crime bar; probable cause; INTERPOL Red Notice; Convention Against Torture; government acquiescence; El Salvador

Plancarte Sauceda v. Garland, No. 19-73312 (9th Cir. Aug. 20, 2021)

• particular social group; immutable characteristic; asylum; withholding of removal; Convention Against Torture; government acquiescence; venue

8/16/21

Matter of Hernandez-Romero, 28 I&N Dec. 374 (BIA 2021)

• NACARA; cancellation of removal; statutory construction

Sanchez-Ruano v. Garland, No. 18-71760 (9th Cir. Aug. 11, 2021)

• Cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(b); inadmissibility grounds; INA § 212; deportability grounds; INA § 237; removability vs relief

Mohamed v. Garland, No. 20-1829 (8th Cir. Aug. 13, 2021)

• Convention Against Torture; fact-finding; Matter of J-F-F-; more likely than not; government acquiescence; Somalia

Yusuf v. Garland, No. 20-2316 (8th Cir. Aug. 9, 2021)

• Motion to reopen; Convention Against Torture; changed country conditions; sua sponte; LGBT; Somalia; due process

Gonzales Quecheluno v. Garland, No. 20-2200 (8th Cir. Aug. 12, 2021)

• Motion to reopen; continuance; jurisdiction; admin closure; Matter of Sanchez Sosa; U Visa;

Gonzalez Hernandez v. Garland, No. 19-60274 (5th Cir. Aug. 13, 2021)

• Motion to reconsider; motion to reopen; change in law; aggravated felony; crime of violence; INA § 101(a)(43)(F); 18 U.S.C. § 16(b); Sessions v. Dimaya; El Salvador

8/9/21

Simpson v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-11156 (11th Cir. Aug. 4, 2021)

• Stat. § 790.23(1)(a); felon in possession; INA § 237(a)(2)(C); ammunition; divisibility; categorical and modified categorical approach; jury instructions

Maie v. Garland, No. 19-73099 (9th Cir. Aug. 2, 2021)

• CIMT; theft; Haw. Rev. Stat. § 708-833(1); Model Penal Code; deprive; Matter of Diaz-Lizarraga; Matter of Burbano

Gilbertson v. Garland, No. 20-2355 (8th Cir. Aug. 2, 2021)

• particularly serious crimes; withholding of removal; Matter of G-G-S-; mental health; Shazi v. Wilkinson; drug trafficking; Matter of Y-L-; Los Zetas; Mexico

Rosales-Reyes v. Garland, No. 20-2417 (8th Cir. Aug. 4, 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; drug cartels; CAT; relocation; Mexico

Nolasco v. Garland, No. 20-1034 (4th Cir. Aug. 2, 2021)

• Particular social groups; asylum; asylum; socially distinct; CAT protection; former gang membership; Matter of M-E-V-G-; Matter of W-G-R-; El Salvador

Vasquez-Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 19-71445 (9th Cir. Aug. 5, 2021)

• 8 U.S.C. § 1252(d)(1); issue exhaustion; futility; Matter of E-A-G-; particular social group; imputed gang membership; CAT; safe relocation; El Salvador.

Romero v. Garland, No. 17-70534 (9th Cir. Aug. 2, 2021)

• false claim to citizenship; INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(ii); burdens of proof; admission

Parada-Orellana v. Garland, No. 19-60645 (5th Cir. Aug. 6, 2021)

•  Motions to reopen; INA § 240A(b); non-LPR cancellation of removal; hardship; jurisdiction; INA § 242(a)(2)(B); in absentia order

8/2/21

Matter of A-C-A-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 351 (A.G. 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; DHS stipulations

Matter of Aguilar-Barajas, 28 I&N Dec. 354 (BIA 2021)

• aggravated statutory rape; Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-506(c); crime of child abuse under INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); Esquivel-Quintana

Marinelarena v. Garland, No. 14-72003 (9th Cir. July 26, 2021)

• Cal. Pen. Code § 182; Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11352(a); divisibility; burdens; Pereida 

Estella Orellana v. Mayorkas, et al., No. 20-16092 (9th Cir. July 28, 2021)

• naturalization; INA § 101(a)(43)(M)(i) aggravated felony; + $10,000; Cal Pen. Code § 550(b)(3); insurance fraud; Harveywaiver; motion to dismiss

Galvan v. Garland, No. 20-1485 (4th Cir. July 27, 2021)

• jurisdiction; discretion; non-LPR cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(b); exceptional and extremely unusual hardship

Mencia-Medina v. Garland, No. 20-1724 (8th Cir. July 29, 2021)

• issue exhaustion; VAWA cancellation of removal; BIA factfinding; discretionary determinations

Vazquez-Guerra v. Garland, No. 18-60828 (5th Cir. July 29, 2021)

• family-based particular social group; nexus; one central reason; nexus for withholding of removal; Mexico

Singh v. Garland, No. 17-2368 (2d Cir. July 28, 2021)

• adverse credibility; inconsistency; omission; Sikh; Shiromani Akali Da Amritsar (SADA); India

Omowole v. Garland, No. 20-2285 (7th Cir. July 29, 2021)

• credibility; fraud; sham marriage

7/26/21

Matter of O-R-E-, 28 I&N Dec. 330 (BIA 2021)

• equitable doctrine of latches; due process; genocide; Rwanda; INA § 212(a)(3)(E)(ii), (iii); credibility; material misrepresentation

Meza v. Garland, No. 20-2193 (7th Cir. July 20, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal INA § 240A(b); jurisdiction; good moral character; weighing of evidence; DUI

Orpinel-Robledo v. Garland, No. 20-2624 (8th Cir. July 19, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal INA § 240A(b); due process; change of judges; use of the word “the”

Avendano-Elvira v. Garland, No. 20-2775 (8th Cir. July 21, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal INA § 240A(b); due process; change of judges; right to a specific immigration judge

7/19/21

Matter of Cruz-Valdez, 28 I&N Dec. 326 (A.G. 2021)

• administrative closure; Matter of Castro-Tum

Valarezo-Tirado v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-1705 (3d Cir. July 15, 2021)

• reasonable fear interview; reinstatement; withholding-only; adequacy of IJ decision; CAT

B.R. v. Garland, No. 19-70386 (9th Cir. July 12, 2021)

• termination; regulatory violations; due process; service of NTA on minor; egregious constitutional violation; evidence of alienage; CAT; drug cartels; Mexico

Lalayan v. Garland, No. 18-73062 (9th Cir. July 13, 2021)

• adverse credibility; plausibility; demeanor; Armenia

Singh v. Garland, No. 19-60937 (5th Cir. July 12, 2021)

• stay of removal; due process; adverse credibility; IJ bias; extra-record evidence; Matter of R-K-K-; political opinion; persecution; Mann Party; BJP; India

Sanchez-Gonzalez v. Garland, No. 20-3938 (6th Cir. July 16, 2021)

• motion to reopen; jurisdiction; INA § 241(a)(5); reinstatement; gross miscarriage of justice; Ohio Revised Code § 2943.031(A); duty to advise immigration consequences

Coto-Albarenga v. Garland, No. 20-2539 (8th Cir. July 12, 2021)

• adverse credibility; credible fear interview; discrepancies

Fofana v. Mayorkas, No. 20-1623 (8th Cir. July 15, 2021)

• material support of terrorism; issue preclusion; collateral estoppel; United Liberation Movement

Peh v. Garland, No. 20-1508 (8th Cir. July 16, 2021)

• realistic probability test; Iowa Code § 710.10(3); “entice”; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment

Ochoa-Salgado v. Garland, No. 19-60519 (5th Cir. July 16, 2021)

• drug trafficking aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(B); delivery; offer to sell; rule of orderliness; categorical approach; Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.112

7/12/21

Guerrero Trejo v. Garland, No. 20-60353 (5th Cir. July 2, 2021)

• INA § 240A(b); non-LPR cancellation of removal; hardship; jurisdiction; INA § 242(a)(2)(B); Guerrero-Lasprilla

Bautista-Bautista v. Garland, No. 20-1534 (8th Cir. July 6, 2021)

• particular social group; convention against torture; CAT; tattoos; Seguridad; Guatemala

Quintanilla v. Garland, No. 18-67 (2d Cir. July 9, 2021)

• withholding of removal; particular social group; Nasrallah; gangs; MS-13; El Salvador

Posos-Sanchez v. Garland, No. 17-72002 (9th Cir. July 7, 2021)

• admission; amnesty; INA § 240B(b); voluntary departure; Niz-Chavezand Pereira; NTA

Escobar Santos v. Garland, No. 17-72334 (9th Cir. July 9, 2021)

• forgery in violation of Cal. Pen. Code § 470a; aggravated felony; INA § 101(a)(43)(R)

7/5/21

Odds and Ends

• Flores settlement
• Patel v. Garland!!!!

Johnson v. Chavez, No. 19-897 (U.S. June 29, 2021)

• detention; reinstatement; withholding of removal; Nasrallah 
• Click here to support Immigrant’s List! – https://www.immigrantslist.org/

Matter of S-L-H- & L-B-L-, 28 I&N Dec. 318 (BIA 2021)

• in absentia motion to reopen; exceptional circumstances; de novo review; weather; traffic; tardiness; sufficiency of evidence

Perez-Trujillo v. Garland, Nos. 11-1481, 17-1586 (1st Cir. June 28, 2021)

• particular social group; gang recruitment; former gang member; MS-13; El Salvador; Special Immigrant Juvenile status (SIJ); discretion; Matter of Arai; jurisdiction

Portillo-Flores v. Garland, No. 19-1591 (4th Cir. June 29, 2021) (en banc)

• asylum; past persecution; death threats; children; family based particular social group; El Salvador; MS-13

Adeeko v. Garland, No. 19-60703 (5th Cir. July 1, 2021)

• child abuse, abandonment, or neglect; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); online solicitation of a minor in violation of Tex. Pen. Code § 33.021(c); categorical approach

Parzych v. Garland, No. 20-2317 (7th Cir. June 28, 2021)

• categorical approach; modified categorical approach; divisibility; elements; means; jury instructions; Mathis peek

Mejia-Padilla v. Garland, No. 20-1720 (7th Cir. June 29, 2021)

• motions to reopen; defective NTA; Pereira; non-LPR cancellation of removal; stop-time rule; equitable tolling

Brathwaite v. Garland, No. 20-27 (2d Cir. July 1, 2021)

• criminal conviction; finality; Chevron deference; Matter of J.M. Acosta; N.Y. Crim. Pen. L. § 460.30

6/28/21

Avila de la Rosa v. Garland, No. 20-1956 (7th Cir. June 24, 2021)

• defective notice to appear; NTA; prejudice; claims processing rule; Pereira; Niz-Chavez; motion to terminate

Matter of Moradel, 28 I&N Dec. 310 (BIA 2021)

• Special Immigrant Juvenile status; canon of statutory construction – rule of the last antecedent; statutory interpretation; N.J. Stat. § 2C:35-10(a)(4); simple possession; 30 grams or less of marijuana; circumstance specific approach

Bogle v. Garland, No. 19-72290 (9th Cir. June 23, 2021)

• personal use exception under INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); conviction under INA § 101(a)(48); circumstances specific approach; police report; Pereida v. Wilkinson

Kaur v. Garland, No. 18-72786 (9th Cir. June 21, 2021)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; change in circumstances; personal circumstances; family-based particular social group; persecution by members of group; retribution; personal vendetta; acquiescence; CAT; relocation; women; India

Zamorano v. Garland, No. 19-72893 (9th Cir. June 25, 2021)

• prehearing voluntary departure under INA § 240B(a); due process; IJ duty to inquire – asylum; 8 C.F.R. § 1240.11; U-Visa

Moreno-Osorio v. Garland, No. 20-1035 (4th Cir. June 23, 2021)

• asylum; withholding of removal; CAT; Mara 18; Honduras; particularity; unlawfully wounding in violation of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51; crime of violence; Bordon

6/21/21

Matter of A-B-, 28 I&N Dec. 307 (A.G. 2021)

• particular social group; Matter of A-B-; Matter of A-B- II; Matter of A-R-C-G-

Matter of L-E-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 304 (A.G. 2021)

• particular social group; Matter of L-E-A- II; family nexus; Niz-Chavez motion to terminate

Thamotar v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12019 (11th Cir. June 17, 2021)

• asylum; withholding of removal; discretion; family unification; 8 C.F.R. § 1208.16(e); Sri Lanka; Tamil

Darby v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2107 (3rd Cir. June 17, 2021)

• changed country condition motion to reopen; CAT; materiality; prima facie standard; sua sponte; Jamaica

6/14/21

Sanchez v. Mayorkas, No. 20-315 (U.S. June 7, 2021)

• temporary protected status; TPS; admission; statutory interpretation
• Click here to support Immigrant’s List! – https://www.immigrantslist.org/

Bordon v. U.S., No. 19-5410 (U.S. June 10, 2021)

• ACCA; violent felony; crime of violence; INA § 101(a)(43)(F); 18 U.S.C. § 16(a); elements clause; recklessness; all mens rea

Matter of D-G-C-, 28 I&N Dec. 297 (BIA 2021)

• asylum; one year filing deadline; changed circumstances; definition of material

Veloz v. Garland, No. 19-4111 (2d Cir. June 7, 2021)

• New York petit larceny; N.Y. Pen. L. § 155.25; intent to appropriate; N.Y. Pen. L. § 155.00(4)(b); CIMT; Matter of Diaz-Lizarraga

Tobias-Chaves v. Garland, No. 20-4020 (6th Cir. June 8, 2021)

• procedural due process; prejudice; jurisdiction; venue; prejudice

Soto-Soto v. Garland, No. 20-70587 (9th Cir. June 11, 2021)

• standard of review; clear error; de novo; CAT deferral; indigenous women; Mexico; Interpol Red Notice

6/7/21

Ep. preview with United States v. Abdul Aziz (1st Cir. Jun. 2, 2021)

• Massachusetts marijuana and hemp

Garland v. Dai, No. 19-1155 (U.S. June 1, 2021)

• adverse credibility; presumption of credibility; deemed credible; persuasiveness

Garcia-Deleon v. Garland, No. 20-3957 (6th Cir. June 4, 2021)

• administrative closure; Castro-Tum; regulatory interpretation; provisional unlawful presence waiver; 8 C.F.R § 212.7(e)(4)(iii)

Padilla-Franco v. Garland, No. 20-2415 (8th Cir. June 2, 2021)

• asylum; past persecution; particular social group; extortion; BIA standard of review

Rubalcaba v. Garland, No. 17-70845 (9th Cir. June 2, 2021)

• sua sponte motion to reopen; departure bar; Kisor deference

Sanchez-Castro v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-15091 (11th Cir. June 1, 2021)

• nexus; family-based particular social group; government acquiescence; MS-13; El Salvador

5/31/21

United States v. Palomar-Santiago, No. 20-437 (U.S. May 24, 2021)

• 8 U.S.C. § 1326(d); illegal reentry; Leocal; motion to reopen; change in law

Quintero v. Garland, No. 19-1904 (4th Cir. May 26, 2021)

• presumption of credibility; duty to develop record; Matter of W-Y-C- & H-O-B-; pro serespondents; acquiescence; aggregate harm; Convention Against Torture; El Salvador; MS-13

Dawson v. Garland, No. 19-73124 (9th Cir. May 26, 2021)

• Convention Against Torture; past torture; protective order; changed personal conditions;  relocation; Jamaica

Vazquez Romero v. Garland, No. 15-72947 (9th Cir. May 28, 2021)

• applicant for admission; returning LPR; Matter of Valenzuela-Felix; INA § 101(a)(13)(C); CIMT; California petty theft; bond

Tacuri-Tacuri v. Garland, No. 19-1687 (1st Cir. May 24, 2021)

• INA § 240A(b); non-LPR cancellation of removal; exceptional and extremely unusual hardship

Rojas v. Garland, No. 19-1944 (8th Cir. May 27, 2021)

• knows or has reason to believe illicit trafficker in a controlled substance; INA § 212(a)(2)(C); probable cause; criminal alien bar; INA §  242(a)(2)(C)

5/24/21

Islam v. DHS, No. 19-13287 (11th Cir. May 20, 2021)

• INA § 212(a)(3)(B); membership in a terrorist organization; definition of Tier III terrorist organization; jurisdiction; issue preclusion; collateral estoppel; “actually litigated”; void for vagueness; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP

Figueroa v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-1419 (3d Cir. May 19, 2021)

• fugitive disentitlement doctrine; unable or unwilling to control; complete helplessness; condone; consent, acquiesce, or willful blindness; CAT; withholding gang violence; Honduras

Maniar v. Garland, No. 18-60667 (5th Cir. May 20, 2021)

• INA § 101(a)(43)(D); conspiracy; aggravated felony; Chenery; Niz-Chavez; jurisdiction

Carino v. Garland, No. 18-72985 (9th Cir. May 18, 2021)

• derivative citizenship; INA § 321(a); legal custody; nunc pro tunc state court orders; Congressional intent; federalism; Philippines; Convention Against Torture; drugs

5/22/21

Special Episode – Interview with John Pratt, Partner at KKTP

Introduction
Interview with John Pratt
EB-5 visas and Regional Center Program
AILA National elections
Click this link to learn more about John!

5/17/21

Cheneau v. Garland, No. 15-70636 (9th Cir. May 13, 2021) (en banc)

• derivative citizenship; former INA § 321(a)(5) (repealed); statutory interpretation; cannon against superfluity; cannon when Congress uses language it omits elsewhere; Congressional intent; family unity; history of the INA

Hernandez-Galand v. Garland, No. 17-70538 (9th Cir. May 12, 2021)

• motion to reopen; in absentia; INA § 240(b)(5)(C)(i); exceptional circumstances; totality of circumstances; persuasiveness of affidavit

Blanc v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12508 (11th Cir. May 11, 2021)

• Pre-conclusion voluntary departure under INA § 240B(a); jurisdiction; BIA authority; factfinding; discretion; Patel and Kurapati

Nguyen v. Garland, No. 19-60342 (5th Cir. May 12, 2021)

• conviction; INA § 101(a)(43)(A); criminal alien jurisdictional bar; unsigned documents

Mirza v. Garland, No. 20-60132 (5th Cir. May 12, 2021)

• termination of asylum; INA § 212(b)(2)(A)(iv); Matter of A-H-; probable cause standard; danger; reasonable grounds; Mohajir Quami Movement (MQM); Chevron deference

Thayalan v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2270 (3d Cir. May 10, 2021)

• past persecution; asylum; pattern of mistreatment; extortion; Matter of A-B- II, Sri Lanka; Tamil

5/10/21

Arcos Sanchez v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-1843 (3d Cir. May 5, 2021)

• administrative closure; regulations; regulatory interpretation; Kisor deference; DACA

Romero v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-3705 (3d Cir. May 5, 2021)

• reinstatement; withholding only proceedings; jurisdiction; notice of referral; Form I-863; Pereira

K.A. v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 17-3640 (3d Cir. May 4, 2021)

• second-degree New Jersey robbery in violation of N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:15-1; aggravated felony “theft offense” under INA § 101(a)(43)(G); New Jersey theft; consent through fraud; affirmative defense

Guzman-Garcia v. Garland, No. 20-1966 (7th Cir. May 3, 2021)

• asylum; withholding of removal; well-founded fear; gangs; Mexico

Gonzalez-Veliz v. Garland, No. 19-72090 (9th Cir. May 4, 2021)

• abandonment of asylum application; biometrics; continuance; good cause

Artola v. Garland, No. 19-1286 (8th Cir. May 5, 2051)

• LPR cancellation of removal; INA § 240A(a); TPS; admission; INA § 244(e); statutory construction; plain text

Route v. Garland, No. 19-72854 (9th Cir. May 6, 2021)

• CIMT within 5 years; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(i); Micronesia; Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003; US-FSM COFA § 141; Matter of Alyazji; admission; Chevron deference; unpublished BIA decision

Links referenced in Arcos Sanchez :

• https://bit.ly/3bbU9mK
• https://bit.ly/3to1wh6

5/3/21

Niz-Chavez v. Garland, No. 19-863 (U.S. Apr. 29, 2021)

• non-LPR cancellation of removal; stop-time rule; implication of the indefinite article “a”; statutory interpretation; Dictionary Act; motion to reopen; claims processing rule

Tetteh v. Garland, No. 19-2357 (4th Cir. Apr. 27, 2021)

• pardons; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(vi); Georgia First Offender Act, Ga. Code Ann. § 42-8-60; former INA § 212(c); definition of conviction

Jimenez-Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 19-2467 (4th Cir. Apr. 29, 2021)

• U-visa; waivers; Chenrey doctrine; IJ authority; INA § 212(d)(3)(A)(ii); regulatory interpretation; limits of expressio unius canon

USA v. Figueroa-Beltran, No. 16-10388 (9th Cir. Apr. 27, 2021)

• Nevada Revised Statute § 453.337; 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a); divisibility; drug trafficking; sentence enhancement

4/26/21

Happy anniversary, and thank you!

Thompson v. Garland, No. 17-3494 (2d Cir. Apr. 22, 2021)

• second-degree assault under New York Penal Law § 120.05(1); crime of violence; INA § 101(a)(43)(F); 18 U.S.C. § 16(a)

4/19/21

Matter of Mensah, 28 I&N Dec. 288 (BIA 2021)

• conditional lawful permanent resident; CLPR; petition to remove condition; fraud or willful misrepresentation; INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i); USCIS interview

Aristy-Rosa v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2105 (3d Cir. Mar. 16, 2021)

• pardons; definition of conviction; full faith and credit; INA § 237(a)(2)(B); INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(vi); Matter of Suh

Arroyo v. Garland, No. 19-3032 (8th Cir. Apr. 14, 2021)

• controlled substances offense; INA § 212(a)(2)(a)(i)(II); possession of marijuana; Iowa Code § 124.401(5); divisibility; different punishments; motion to reconsider

Zarate-Alvarez v. Garland, No. 19-9570 (10th Cir. Mar. 23, 2021)

• INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i); crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment; Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-6-401(1)(a), (7)(b)(I); non-LPR cancellation of removal

Alvarado-Herrera v. Garland, No. 18-70191 (9th Cir. Apr. 13, 2021)

• reasonable fear interview; reinstatement; expedited removal procedures; Convention Against Torture; 18th Street Gang; willful blindness of police; Honduras

4/12/21

Rodriguez-Tornes v. Garland, No. 19-71104 (9th Cir. Apr. 5, 2021)

• asylum; nexus; Matter of A-B-; Matter of A-B- II, feminism political opinion; particular social group of Mexican females; reman; expert

Matter of A-S-M-, 28 I&N Dec. 282 (BIA 2021)

• INA § 241(a)(5); reinstatement; withholding of removal; country of removal; INA § 241(b)(2)(A)–(E); 8 C.F.R. § 1241.8(e); 8 C.F.R. § 1241.31

Sánchez-Vásquez v. Garland, No. 20-1661 (1st Cir. Apr. 7, 2021)

• particular social group; anti-gang; Evangelical Christian; El Salvador; administrative notice; pro se respondent

Cabrera Martinez v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-14110 (11th Cir. Apr. 7, 20

• asylum; past persecution; economic persecution; “reasoned consideration”; Cuban journalists; Cuba

Orellana-Recinos v. Garland, No. 19-9596 (10th Cir. Apr. 5, 2021)

• asylum; nexus; family based particular social group; gang recruitment; MS-13; El Salvador

Quiroa-Motta v. Garland, No. 20-1425 (1st Cir. Apr. 6, 2021)

• motion to reopen; ineffective assistance of counsel; due diligence

Aspilaire v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12605 (11th Cir. Apr. 6, 2021)

• aggravated felony, INA § 101(a)(43)(E)(ii); felon in possession of a firearm, Fla. Stat. § 790.23(1)(a); antique firearms exception; realistic probability test

Diaz-Flores v. Garland, No. 17-72563 (9th Cir. Apr. 6, 2021)

• definition of a CIMT; first-degree burglary of a dwelling under Oregon Rev. Stat. § 164.2Matter of J-G-D-F-; dwelling

Ahmed v. Garland, No. 19-3480 (8th Cir. Apr. 8, 2021)

• law relating to a controlled substance; INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); Minn. Stat. § 152.025; disability; BIA factfinding; asylum; Somalia

4/8/21

Special Episode – Interview with Helena Tetzeli, Partner at KKTP

Introduction
Interview with Helena Tetzeli
Click this link to learn more about Helena!

4/5/21

Hylton v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-14825 (11th Cir. Mar. 31, 2021)

• aggravated felony; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(iii); statutory interpretation; denaturalization; Chevron and Brand-X deference; rule of lenity; prior-construction canon

Matter of Al Sabsabi, 28 I&N Dec. 269 (BIA 2021)

• CIMT; impairing government functions; conspiracy, underlying offense; 18 U.S.C. § 371; selling counterfeit currency in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 473; divisibility

Matter of Vucetic, 28 I&N Dec. 276 (BIA 2021)

• CIMT; DUI; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in violation of New York Vehicle & Traffic Law § 511(3)(a)(i); mens rea; recklessness; realistic probability test

Cruz Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 19-60456 (5th Cir. Apr. 1, 2021)

• res judicata; Texas robbery; nucleus of operative facts

Meza-Vazquez v. Garland, No. 15-72672 (9th Cir. Apr. 1, 2021)

• Equal Access to Justice Act (“EAJA”); 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d); substantially justified; asylum; LGBT; Mexico

Silva v. Garland, No. 16-70130 (9th Cir. Mar. 30, 2021)

• CIMT; petty theft; Cal. Pen Code § 484(a); categorical approach; changed country condition motions to reopen; Philippines; retroactivity; Matter of Diaz Lizzaraga

3/29/21

Alejos-Perez v. Garland, No. 19-60256 (5th Cir. Mar. 22, 2021)

• law relating to a controlled substance; INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.1161(a); divisibility; ambiguity; burdens; drugs as elements; jury instructions; different punishments; intermediate state court decisions

Njilefac v. Garland, No. 20-60520 (5th Cir. Mar. 24, 2021)

• affidavits; presumption of delivery; due process; motion to reconsider

Lopez-Chavez v. Garland, No. 18-3735 (8th Cir. Mar. 22, 2021)

• aggravated felony; Moncrieffe v. Holder; INA § 101(a)(43)(O); INA § 101(a)(43)(B); 8 U.S.C. § 1326; § 1325; illegal reentry; small amount of marijuana; retroactivity

Gutierrez-Gutierrez v. Garland, No. 18-2034 (8th Cir. Mar. 22, 2021)

• reinstatement; procedurally lawful admission; Matter of Quilantan; motion to reopen; jurisdiction; gross miscarriage of justice

Acevedo v. Garland, No. 19-72381 (9th Cir. Mar. 24, 2021)

• particular social group; particularity; intellectual disability; subgroups; psychological reports; social distinction; relevant society; asylum; El Salvador

3/22/21

Awuku-Asare v. Garland, No. 19-9516 (10th Cir. Mar. 16, 2021)

• F-1 student status; failure to maintain status; statutory interpretation; definition of the word “fail”

Cuesta-Rojas v. Garland, No. 20-1302 (1st Cir. Mar. 15, 2021)

• asylum; adverse credibility; sworn statement; discrepancies; corroborating evidence; definition of arrest

Thile v. Garland, No. 20-1259 (1st Cir. Mar. 19, 2021)

• citizenship; burdens; identity; asylum; China; India; Tibet

Aguilar-Osorio v. Garland, No. 19-73000 (9th Cir. Mar. 15, 2021)

• particular social group; witnesses to gang activity; Department of State reports

Rodriguez v. Garland, No. 20-70240 (9th Cir. Mar. 15, 2021)

• motion to reopen; materially changed country conditions; change in personal circumstances; Mexico

3/8/21

Gonzalez v. Wilkinson, No. 19-3412 (8th Cir. Mar. 9, 2021)

• realistic probability test; cancellation of removal; Fla. Stat. § 893.13(6)(b); possession of marijuana; divisibility; Matter of Guadarrama

Matter of Nemis, 28 I&N Dec. 250 (BIA 2021)

• conspiracy; fraud; CIMT; conspiracy to commit visa fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 and 18 U.S.C. § 1546(a)

Matter of Aguilar-Mendez, 28 I&N Dec. 262 (BIA 2021)

• CIMT; assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury in violation of Cal. Pen. Code § 245(a)(4); voluntary departure

Birhanu v. Wilkinson, No. 19-9599 (10th Cir. Mar. 9, 2021)

• CIMT; recklessness; making threats of terrorism in violation of Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-107.3(1)(b)(ii); single scheme of criminal conduct; INA § 237(a)(2)(A)(ii); particularly serious crime; mental health; competency hearing

Jama v. Wilkinson, No. 19-2250 (8th Cir. Mar. 11, 2021)

• particularly serious crime; Matter of G-G-S-; mental health; BIA fact finding; CAT deferral; Somalia

Sanchez v. Garland, No. 16-73745 (9th Cir. Mar. 11, 2021)

• past persecution; threats; gangs; women; social distinction; El Salvador

Lucaj v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1566 (1st Cir. Mar. 10, 2021)

• motion to reopen based on materially changed country conditions; deterioration of conditions; asylum; Albania

Lopez v. Garland, No. 20-3762 (6th Cir. Mar. 12, 2021)

• in absentia motion to reopen; notice to appear (NTA) in native language

Arguijo v. USCIS, No. 13-cv-05751 (7th Cir. Mar. 12, 2021)

• Violence Against Women Act; VAWA; stepchild; dictionary definition

3/8/21

Pereida v. Wilkinson, No. 19-438 (U.S. Mar. 4, 2021)

• burdens; categorical approach; relief from removal; ambiguous criminal conviction; attempted criminal impersonation in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28–638; CIMT

Arita-Deras v. Wilkinson, No. 19-1978 (4th Cir. Mar. 4, 2021)

• asylum; corroboration; family affidavits; Honduras; family based particular social group; gangs; death threats

White v. Wilkinson, No. 19-3517 (8th Cir. Mar. 4, 2021)

• motion to reopen; VAWA cancellation; good moral character; discretion

Ali Aden v. Wilkinson, 17-71313 (9th Cir. Mar. 4, 2021)

• asylum; firm resettlement bar; past persecution; threats; beatings; imputed religion; Somalia; Al-Shabaab

3/1/21

Oliveira v. Wilkinson, No. 19-1258 (1st Cir. Feb. 22, 2021)

• INA § 245(i) adjustment of status; approvable when filed; meritorious in fact; Matter of Butt

Matter of L-L-P-, 28 I&N Dec. 241 (BIA 2021)

• special rule cancellation of removal under INA § 240A(b)(2); statutory construction; legislative intent

Molina-Diaz v. Wilkinson, No. 15-2321 (1st Cir. Feb. 25, 2021)

• clean credibility finding; adverse credibility; presumption of credibility; corroboration; Honduras; MUCA; CAT; withholding of removal

Zelaya-Moreno v. Wilkinson, No. 17-2284 (2d Cir. Feb. 26, 2021)

• political opinion; gang recruitment; opposition to corruption; El Salvador

Sunuwar v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 20-2091 (3d Cir. Feb. 25, 2021)

• particularly serious crime; Matter of N-A-M-; length of sentence; strangulation under 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 2718(a); contempt under 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 6114(a) for disobeying a protective order; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(ii), violation of protective order; adverse credibility

Lazo v. Wilkinson, No. 14-73182 (9th Cir. Feb. 26, 2021)

• controlled substance offense; INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i); California Health and Safety Code § 11350; divisibility; jury instructions

2/22/21

Chacon v. Wilkinson, No. 18-71515 (9th Cir. Feb. 18, 2021)

• particularly serious crime; importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms without a license in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A); aggravated felony; illicit trafficking in firearms; categorical approach

Naranjo Garcia v. Wilkinson, No. 19-72803 (9th Cir. Feb. 18, 2021)

• nexus; mixed motive; asylum; particular social group; family; property owner; gang recruitment; “one reason” and “a reason” for withholding of removal

2/14/21

Diaz De Gomez v. Wilkinson, No. 19-2115 (4th Cir. Feb. 8, 2021)

• asylum; nexus; particular social group; nuclear family; extortion; gang recruitment; death threats; Los Zetas; Guatemala; Matter of A-B- II; Matter of L-E-A- II

Macedo Templos v. Wilkinson, No. 15-73122 (9th Cir. Feb. 9, 2021)

• withholding of removal; particular social group; nexus; “Mexican wealthy business owners”; Convention Against Torture; “rogue official”

Santos-Ponce v. Wilkinson, No. 18-72433 (9th Cir. Feb. 10, 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; “young Christian males who resist gang recruitment”; Honduras

Zaruma-Guaman v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1533 (1st Cir. Feb. 9, 2021)

• asylum; adverse credibility; inconsistencies; sworn statement; Ecuador

Shazi v. Wilkinson, No. 19-2842 (8th Cir. Feb. 11, 2021)

• particularly serious crime; Matter of G-G-S-; mental health; terroristic threats; Nasrallah – particularly serious crime; withholding; Iraq

Gallina v. Wilkinson, No. 17-4058 (2d Cir. Feb. 12, 2021)

• deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture; “other procedures” under CAT regulations; mafia; solitary confinement; Italy

Perez-Perez v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1048 (7th Cir. Feb. 11, 2021)

• motion to reopen; in absentia; deportation proceedings; Periera v. Sessions; Order to Show Cause

2/8/21

Barahona v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1546 (8th Cir. Feb. 3, 2021)

• serious non-political crime; asylum; probable cause; INA §§ 208(b)(2)(A)(iii), 241(b)(3)(B)(iii); burdens; Interpol Red Notice

Tibakweitira v. Wilkinson, No. 18-60459 (5th Cir. Feb. 2, 2021)

• withholding of removal; jurisdiction; particularly serious crime; INA § 242(a)(2)(C); Nasrallah; three member panel (BIA) and due process; motion to reopen

Martinez-Baez v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1078 (7th Cir. Feb. 1, 2021)

• corroboration; credibility; cancellation of removal; jurisdiction; INA § 242(a)(2)(B); INA § 242(a)(2)(D); statutory headings; Guerrero-Lasprilla

Tomczyk v. Wilkinson, No. 16-72926 (9th Cir. Feb. 3, 2021)

• reinstatement; INA § 241(a)(5); illegal entry; procedurally proper admission; waive through; statutory analysis

2/1/21

Amaya v. Rosen, No. 19-1619 (4th Cir. Jan. 25, 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; particularity; former gang members; MS-13; El Salvador

Kaur v. Wilkinson, No. 18-73001 (9th Cir. Jan. 29, 2021)

• past persecution; attempted gang rape; sexual violence; nexus to government actor even when political party not in power; India; Mann Party

Matter of H-L-S-A-, 28 I&N Dec. 228 (BIA 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; social distinction; gangs; criminal witnesses; public testimony; MS-13; persecution in the United States

Matter of Viera-Garcia and Ordonez-Viera, 28 I&N Dec. 223 (BIA 2021)

• NTA; Pereira v. Sessions; voluntary departure; INA § 240B(b); stop-time rule

Munoz-Rivera v. Wilkinson, No. 19-60376 (5th Cir. Jan. 27, 2021)

• crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT); deception; use of an unauthorized social security number in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(7)(B)

Granados Benitez v. Wilkinson, No. 20-1541 (1st Cir. Jan. 28, 2021)

• motion to reopen; changed circumstances; additional evidence; continuances; Matter of L-A-B-R-; U-Visa

1/25/21

Introduction Interview with Eddie Ramos Click this link to learn more about Eddie! Helpful resources for issues discussed on the episode:

• Mechanics of filing a PFR

• Practice Advisory on Guerrero-Lasprilla

• Practice Advisory on materiality post-Patel

• Practice Advisory on jurisdiction post-Patel

1/25/21

Matter of Dikhtyar, 28 I&N Dec. 214 (BIA 2021)

• modified categorical approach; divisibility; Utah Code § 58-37-8(2)(a)(i); controlled substance offenses; different penalties

Nkomo v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-2781 (3d Cir. Jan. 21, 2021)

• motion to reopen; equitable tolling; exhaustion

1/18/21

Matter of A-B-, 28 I&N Dec. 199 (A.G. 2021)

• past persecution; unable or unwilling; relocation; nexus; but-for cause; Brand-X and Chevron

Al Amiri v. Rosen, No. 19-1447 (1st Cir. Jan. 11, 2021)

• asylum; Iraq; objectively reasonable fear; nexus; trips to country of removal

Hussein v. Rosen, No. 18-70780 (9th Cir. Jan. 11, 2021)

• asylum; due process rights of pro se respondents; IJ’s duty to develop the record

Hassan v. Rosen, No. 19-2918 (8th Cir. Jan. 15, 2021)

• CAT deferral; minority clan; Somalia; acquiescence and willful blindness; repatriation program for Al-Shabaab defectors

E.A.C.A. v. Rosen, No. 20-3216 (6th Cir. Jan. 12, 2021)

• motion to reopen; in absentia; exceptional circumstances; child birth; totality of circumstances; minor child

Zelaya Diaz v. Rosen, No. 20-1304 (7th Cir. Jan. 15, 2021)

• administrative closure; Accardi doctrine; repapering; cancellation of removal

Meraz-Saucedo v. Rosen, No. 20-1438 (7th Cir. Jan. 15, 2021)

• cancellation of removal; Pereira; timeliness; prejudice; Matter of Mendoza-Hernandez; nexus

1/11/21

Matter of O-M-O-, 28 I&N Dec. 191 (BIA 2021)

• adverse credibility; fraudulent document finding; IJ authority; expert testimony

Velasquez Alvarado v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 20-10599 (11th Cir. Jan. 5, 2021)

• asylum; particular social group; women unable to leave their relationship; Matter of A-B-; women viewed as property

Ovalles v. Rosen, No. 17-60498 (5th Cir. Jan. 6, 2021)

• motions to reopen; equitable tolling; change in law

Singh v. Rosen, No. 20-3127 (6th Cir. Jan. 7, 2021)

• cancellation of removal; mixed question of law and fact; jurisdiction; standards of review; hardship; Pereira; stop time rule

1/4/21

Mendoza-Flores v. Rosen, No. 19-60225 (5th Cir. Dec. 29, 2020)

• mootness; removal from the U.S.; collateral legal consequences; T-Visa

Flores v. Rosen, No. 17-72888 (9th Cir. Dec. 30, 2020)

• Special Agricultural Worker program (SAW); admissibility; statutory construction

USA v. Al-Muwwakkil, No. 18-6201 (4th Cir. Dec. 28, 2020)

• violent felony; ACCA; crime of violence aggravated felony; divisibility; categorical approach; attempted rape in violation of Va. Code Ann. § 18.1-44; burglary in violation of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-90

Garcia-Simisterra v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-13848 (11th Cir. Dec. 30, 2020)

• INA § 101(a)(43)(M)(i) aggravated felony; +$10,000 amount of loss; circumstance specific approach; plea agreement; nolo contender plea; withhold adjudication of guilt

12/28/20

Matter of Rivera-Mendoza, 28 I&N Dec. 184 (BIA 2020)

• Or. Rev. Stat. § 163.545(1); crime of child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment; INA § 237(a)(2)(E)(i)

Rad v. Att’y Gen. U.S., No. 19-1404 (3d Cir. Dec. 21, 2020)

• aggravated felony; INA §§ 101(a)(43)(M)(i) and 101(a)(43)(U); deceit; $10,000 amount; CAN-SPAM Act; 18 U.S.C. § 1037(a); Chenery doctrine

Mohamed v. Barr, No. 19-3356 (8th Cir. Dec. 23, 2020)

• motion to reopen; changed country conditions; Somalia; in absentia

Pojoy-De Leon v. Barr, No. 19-1006 (1st Cir. Dec. 21, 2020)

• asylum; nexus; particular social group; “Guatemalan women”

Ruiz Varela v. Barr, No. 19-1994 (1st Cir. Dec. 23, 2020)

• withholding of removal; particular social group; “immediate family”; Honduras

Minh Nguyen v. Barr, No. 17-72197 (9th Cir. Dec. 21, 2020)

• asylum; particular social group; drug users; Vietnam; 2008 repatriation agreement

12/21/20

Matter of M-A-M-Z-, 28 I&N Dec. 173 (BIA 2020)

• asylum; expert testimony; particular social group; nexus; family-based groups; cartels in Mexico; Ren v. Holder, continuances, and corroborating evidence

Marquez-Paz v. Barr, No. 19-2230 (1st Cir. Dec. 18, 2020)

• asylum; withholding of removal; nexus to a protected ground; Honduran landowners

Addo v. Barr, No. 18-9560 (10th Cir. Dec. 14, 2020)

• asylum; Ghana; reasonable relocation; tribes

Hernandez-Alvarez v. Barr, No. 20-1459 (7th Cir. Dec. 16, 2020)

• motion to reconsider; motion to reopen; equitable tolling; departure bar; sexual abuse of a minor aggravated felony; change in law

Smith v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12622 (11th Cir. Dec. 18, 2020)

• CIMT; Florida vehicular homicide; Fla. Stat. § 782.071; reckless mens rea; vile or depraved conduct

12/14/20

Dos Santos v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12383 (11th Cir. Dec. 11, 2020)

• admissions and concessions; “egregious circumstances”; binding on litigants; prejudice

Singh, et al. v Barr, No. 19-70932 (9th Cir. Dec. 9, 2020)

• credible fear; expedited removal; INA § 242; jurisdiction; motion to reopen

Igiebor v. Barr, No. 19-9579 (10th Cir. Dec. 7, 2020)

• Convention Against Torture (CAT); homosexuality; Nigeria; facilitating return and mootness after removal pending petition; “extraordinary circumstances”; 8 C.F.R. § 1287.6(b) and authentication

12/07/20

Matter of Melgar, 28 I&N Dec. 169 (BIA 2020)

• ineffective assistance of counsel; Lozada; prejudice; Utah Code Ann. § 76-5 109(3)(B); crime of child abuse, abandon, or neglect

Alfaro-Garcia v. U.S. Att’y Gen., No. 19-12068 (11th Cir. Nov. 30, 2020)

• motion to reopen after removal; reinstatement; jurisdiction

Medina Tovar, et. al. v. Zuchowski, et. al. , No. 18-35072 (9th Cir. Dec. 3, 2020)

• U-Visas; U-nonimmigrant status; Special Appearance by Jesse Imbriano, Legal Director of Casa Cornelia Law Center

Mahmoud v. Barr, No. 19-1777 (1st Cir. Nov. 30, 2020)

• abandonment of LPR status; burdens; applicant for admission

11/30/20

 Matter of Padilla Rodriguez, 28 I&N Dec. 164 (BIA 2020)

• Temporary Protected Status (TPS); admission; adjustment of status

Bedoya v. Barr, No. 19-1930 (4th Cir. Nov. 25, 2020)

• asylum; past persecution; death threats; Colombia; Colombian police officer

Hernandez-Serrano v. Barr, No. 20-0367 (6th Cir. Nov. 24, 2020)

• Administrative closure; regulatory interpretation

Barrados-Zarate v. Barr, No. 20-1040 (7th Cir. Nov. 24, 2020)

• issue exhaustion; jurisdiction; non-LPR cancellation of removal; Mexico

Moallin v. Barr, No. 19-2743 (8th Cir. Nov. 23, 2020)

• Convention Against Torture (CAT); Somalia

Vega-Anguiano v. Barr, No. 15-72999 (9th Cir. Nov. 24, 2020)

• reinstatement; gross miscarriage of justice; executing final order; jurisdiction

11/23/20

Sanchez Rosales et al. v. Barr, No. 18-70666 (9th Cir. Nov. 18, 2020)

• motion to reopen; ineffective assistance of counsel; in absentia; notario

Castillo v. Barr, No. 19-72745 (9th Cir. Nov. 18, 2020)

• Convention Against Torture (CAT); El Salvador; expert testimony; standard for reviewing expert testimony; gang activity; MS-13

Celicourt v. Barr, No. 20-1201 (1st Cir. Nov. 17, 2020)

• asylum; evidentiary burden; pattern and practice; evidentiary standard; Haiti; political party in Haiti