Featured Issue: Asylum Under Trump 2.0
On the first day of his second term, President Trump suspended all entries at the U.S. Southern Border for asylum seekers. Since then, the Administration has implemented sweeping restrictions that shut America’s doors to people fleeing persecution. These policies violate federal law, erode constitutionally protected due process, exacerbate the asylum backlog, and give those seeking safety an increasingly narrow path to protection.
Left unchecked by Congress, these policies will have dire consequences for both asylum seekers and the integrity of our legal system. Asylum seekers—especially those without access to counsel—are at grave risk of being returned to harm.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The Administration can maintain order at U.S. borders and effectively manage migration without sacrificing fairness and adherence to the law. With more trained asylum officers, a streamlined legal process, legal representation for asylum seekers, and more effective coordination between relevant agencies, the U.S. can establish a safe, orderly, and humane asylum system.
Browse the Featured Issue: Asylum Under Trump 2.0 collection
CA9 Reverses IJ’s Determination that Asylum Seeker Must Prove Identity
The court held that INA §208(d)(5)(A) imposes duties on the AG and DOS to check the identities of asylum applicants and that there is no new burden on an asylum-seeker under this provision. (Kalouma v. Gonzales, 8/28/07)
CA7 Upholds BIA’s Denial of MTR Based on Changed Personal Circumstances
The court agreed with the BIA that INA §240(c)(7)(C)(ii) allows for motions to reopen beyond the 90-day time limit based only on changed country conditions, not a change in personal circumstances. (Chen v. Gonzales, 8/23/07)
CA7 Rejects BIA’s Finding that Applicant’s FGM Claim Was Not Well-Founded
The court held that Petitioner’s testimony was corroborated by an affidavit from her doctor and an affidavit from her and her father’s pastor in Nigeria verifying that her in-laws sought to have her undergo FGM.(Oyekunle v. Gonzales, 8/22/07)
USCIS Notice to Individuals Granted Immigration Benefits by an IJ or the BIA
A USCIS notice to individuals granted immigration benefits by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals. Guidance is provided on obtaining documentation of status.
CA8 Rejects One-Year Deadline Asylum Claim Based on UN Refugee Protocol
CA8 held that it lacked jurisdiction to review the reasons for filing outside the one-year deadline, but that it did have jurisdiction to address whether the one-year deadline conflicted with the UN Refugee Protocol. It found the argument without merit.(Purwantono v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA2 Says BIA Must Give Opportunity to Rebut Administrative Notice
The court held that the BIA erred when it failed to give Petitioner notice and the opportunity to rebut its intention to consider as administratively noticed the fact that the Mislosevic regime had been dismantled. (Burger v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA2 Rejects Humanitarian Asylum for Lack of Physical/Mental Harm
The court found no evidence of long-lasting physical or mental effects of the persecution Petitioner suffered, which included physical attacks, the rape of his wife in his presence, and burning his house to the ground. (Jalloh v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
Langlois Memo on Minor Principal Asylum Applicants and Changes to RAPS
An 8/14/07 Memo from Joseph Langlois, USCIS Asylum Division Chief, addresses updated procedures for minor principal asylum applicants and changes to RAPS, the asylum database.
CA9 Finds Cambodian Prison Guard Not Subject to Persecutor Bar to Asylum
The court found that a Cambodian prison guard, who unlocked doors to prisoners’ cells based on instructions from superiors and led them back to their cells after interrogations, was not subject to the persecutor bar to asylum and withholding. (Im v. Gonzales, 8/13/07)
CA9 Finds IJ Erred in Denying Asylum as a Matter of Discretion
The court found that Petitioner’s use of false documents in fleeing Iraq was not a proper reason for a discretionary denial of asylum. The court also found that Petitioner presented clear reasons for not applying for asylum in 3 other countries. (Gulla v. Gonzales, 8/13/07)
CA2 Asks BIA for Position on Forced IUD Insertion
The court remanded for the BIA to articulate its position concerning whether, and under what conditions, forced insertion of an IUD constitutes persecution. (Zheng v. Gonzales, 8/10/07)
CA9 Finds IJ Should Consider Asylum Claim from Small Child’s Perspective
The court found that the IJ erred in not looking at the events from the perspective of Petitioners who were children at the time of the past harm. (Hernandez-Ortiz v. Gonzales, 8/8/07)
CA11 Upholds Matter of S-L-L-; Rejects Unmarried Father’s Asylum Claim
The court concluded that the BIA’s decision in Matter of S-L-L-, to deny derivative protection to unmarried fathers of aborted children, is not unreasonable. (Yang v. Gonzales, 8/8/07)
CA8 Rejects Asylum Claim of Blind Albino from Indonesia
The court found that substantial evidence supported the BIA’s finding that the harassment and economic deprivation suffered by Petitioner in Indonesia did not amount to past persecution. (Makatengkeng v. Gonzales, 8/3/07)
BIA Finds that MTRs Carry Heavy Burden to Show "Changed Circumstances"
The BIA held that respondent did not meet the heavy burden to show that her proffered evidence is material and reflects “changed circumstances arising in the country of nationality” regarding Chinese birth planning policies. Matter of S-Y-G-, 24 I&N Dec. 247 (BIA 2007)
Immigration Law Advisor, July 2007 (Vol. 1, No. 7)
Immigration Law Advisor with an article on circuit court decisions in Chinese coercive population control cases, federal court activity for June 2007, an article on Colombian asylum cases, update on recent BIA precedent decisions, and a regulatory update.
CA7 Finds Economic Harm Did Not Amount to Persecution in One-Child Claim
The court found that the damage to Petitioner’s home was insufficient to show economic persecution. The court noted that Petitioner maintained employment, registered his son without paying a fine, and his two children attended public school. (Zhang v. Gonzales, 7/31/07)
CA7 Finds Detention and Beatings in Cameroon Amount to Persecution/Torture
CA7 held that Petitioner established that she suffered persecution on account of her political opinions, having suffered two severe beatings after voicing her opposition to the government. It held that the beatings constituted torture for CAT relief. (Tchemkou v. Gonzales, 7/31/07)
CA2 Remands for Clarification of Asylum Frivolousness Guidelines
The court vacated the findings of frivolousness and remanded to allow the BIA to interpret and apply the relevant statutes and regulations governing frivolousness under the BIA's standards in Matter of Y-L-. (Yang v. Gonzales, 7/31/07)
AILA Liaison/NSC Q & As on "Other" Product Line Issues (7/26/07)
NSC 7/26/07 Q&As address G-28s and I-90s; I-765s for L-2s, E-1/E-2 dependents, J-2 dependents, & F-1 applicants; I-824s; I-131 Refugee Travel Documents; I-751s, a DOS favorable recommendation letter for a 212(e) waiver vs. an I-612 approval notice; N-400s and biometrics for an applicant abroad.
CA5 Finds Abortion Was Forced, Not Voluntary, and Grants Withholding
The court held that Petitioner’s abortion was forced because a reasonable person in her position would objectively view the threats for refusing the abortion to be genuine and that the harm, if carried out, would rise to the level of persecution.(Zhu v. Gonzales, 7/23/07)
USCIS to Discontinue Use of Prepaid Mailers to Send Notices and Documents
USCIS announced that as of 7/30/07, it will only accept “prepaid mailers.” These mailers can be used to return notices and documents to an applicant or petitioner, for refugee travel documents and reentry permit applications.
CA9 Remands for Proper Country of Removal; Refuses to Rule on W/H and CAT
CA9 found that IJ did not follow the proper steps under Jama and erred in designating Ethiopia as the country of removal. It refused to rule on the withholding and CAT claims because each presumes removal to Ethiopia. (Hadera v. Gonzales, 7/18/07)
CA1 Rejects Colombian Asylum Claim for Lack of Nexus to a Protected Ground
The court upheld the IJ’s finding that whoever was threatening Petitioner targeted her because of greed, not her political opinion or membership in a particular social group. (Lopez de Hinacapie v. Gonzales, 7/17/07)
CA11 Finds Attempted Murder is Persecution in Colombian Asylum Case
The court held that the record in the case compelled the conclusion that Petitioner suffered past persecution. The court found that intentionally being shot at in a moving car by two men on motorcycles qualifies as “extreme” under any definition. (Sanchez Jimenez v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 7/17/07)