Case Explained: Jose Antonio Molina-Malaga v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General of the United States1

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-10

The eighth-circuit denied Jose Antonio Molina-Malaga’s petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order dismissing his appeal from an immigration judge’s decision denying him cancellation of removal. The court applied the substantial evidence standard of review, holding that Molina-Malaga failed to meaningfully challenge the agency’s determination that he lacked good moral character, a statutory prerequisite under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1). Because this failure to challenge the finding was dispositive of his claim and any argument on the matter was waived for not being raised or meaningfully argued in his opening brief, the court declined to reach other issues raised on appeal. As a result, the petition is denied and the BIA’s order denying cancellation of removal remains in effect.

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