Raj Patel

Correspondent

Raj Patel

Breaking news correspondent, covers late-night developments and emergency rulings.

Immigration & Government

Decisions covered by Raj Patel

478 decisions
Apr 27 2026
4th Cir. 25-2263 Per Curiam

Mithun Banerjee and Malancha Banerjee v. Timothy S. Rueger, Montgomery County Police Officer; Richard M Luther, Montgomery County Police Officer

The Fourth Circuit dismissed the Banerjees' appeal because the district court's order was not a final judgment or an appealable interlocutory ruling. The appellate court lacks jurisdiction to review procedural orders that do not resolve the entire case or fall under specific statutory exceptions.

Apr 27 2026
9th Cir. 24-6193 Unanimous

HANAN, ET AL. V. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment for the government, holding that the statutory marriage fraud bar applies even when no immigration benefit was actually sought in the prior fraudulent marriage. The court further ruled that USCIS satisfied due process requirements by relying on an ex-spouse's testimony without cross-examination, given the presence of independent evidence and the administrative burden of such hearings.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 22-1280 Unpublished

VAZQUEZ-TRUJILLO V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied Lorena Vazquez-Trujillo's petition for review of her asylum and withholding of removal claims, ruling that her proposed social group lacks the required legal particularity. The court upheld the agency's finding that women of low socio-economic status in Mexico are too amorphous to constitute a cognizable particular social group.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 24-7000 Unpublished

SINGH V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied Gurpreet Singh's petition for review of his asylum and withholding of removal claims because he failed to exhaust administrative remedies regarding an adverse credibility determination. The court further held that Singh lacked sufficient independent corroborating evidence to prove he faced a well-founded fear of persecution.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 2:22-cv-09426-JWH-JC Unpublished

STILLWELL V. CITY OF LOS ANGELES, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a pro se landlord-tenant dispute complaint for failing to provide a short and plain statement of the claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8. The court held that the district court properly denied leave to amend because further amendments would be futile given the plaintiff's prior failures to cure pleading defects.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 23-195 Unpublished

OCHOA ORDONEZ V. BLANCHE

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting a time-barred motion to reopen removal proceedings. The court upheld the BIA's finding that the petitioner failed to demonstrate material changes in Guatemala's country conditions sufficient to trigger the statutory exception.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 3:23-cv-08113-SMM Unpublished

PERKINS V. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment, holding that the Forest Service's cancellation of a grazing permit was supported by substantial evidence of unauthorized grazing. The court further ruled that the appeal was not moot because the appellant retains a concrete interest in resolving her compliance status to secure future permit priority.

Apr 24 2026
9th Cir. 2:25-cv-01823-KKE Unpublished

NGUYEN V. U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, ET AL.

The Ninth Circuit dismissed Nguyen's appeal because the district court's denial of a temporary restraining order is not immediately appealable under federal law. The panel held that the lower court's ruling did not meet the high standard of being tantamount to a preliminary injunction denial.