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 15 2026
9th Cir. 20-71060 Unpublished

NOEL DE JESUS MARTINEZ-LEYVA v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of an immigration judge's denial of asylum and related relief, upholding an adverse credibility finding based on material omissions and inconsistencies in the petitioner's testimony. The court concluded that the record contained substantial evidence to support the agency's determination that the petitioner was not a credible witness.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 15 2026
9th Cir. 16-72280 Unpublished

EDGAR AMADOR BATRES- ALVARADO; VICTORIA VILLEGAS- ACUNA; GALA VICTORIA BATRES- VILLEGAS v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order denying asylum and withholding of removal to three Mexican nationals. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency's finding that the petitioners could reasonably relocate within Mexico to avoid persecution.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 15 2026
10th Cir. 6:91-CR-10038-EFM-1) Panel Decision

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. LORENZO MORALES

The Tenth Circuit reversed a district court's dismissal of a Rule 36 motion, holding that the original sentencing court retains exclusive authority to correct clerical errors in judgments regardless of probation transfers. The appellate panel remanded the case with instructions to evaluate the merits of the defendant's new evidence regarding his social security number.

Civil Social Security
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Apr 15 2026
6th Cir. 25-3483 Published

FERMIN PABLO-DIAZ v. TODD W. BLANCHE, Acting U.S. Attorney General

The Sixth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order rejecting an asylum seeker's claims for withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture protection. The court held that the petitioner failed to prove his fear of persecution was motivated by a protected ground rather than general criminal financial gain, and that he waived his CAT claim by failing to exhaust administrative remedies.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 15 2026
5th Cir. 25-60390 Per Curiam

Galindo-Borjas v. Blanche

The Fifth Circuit denied a Honduran national's petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' dismissal of his motion to reopen removal proceedings. The court held that the petitioner failed to demonstrate equitable tolling for an eight-month filing delay and that due process arguments do not alter the abuse of discretion standard applied to motions to reopen.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 15 2026
Fed. Cir. 25-2155 Panel Decision

JUSTIN PAUL DREILING v. UNITED STATES 2025-2155

The Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a service member's challenge to a base vaccination policy for youth sports due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court held that the Tucker Act does not grant the Court of Federal Claims authority to hear claims for injunctive relief without a money-mandating source of law.

Civil Other Civil
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Apr 15 2026
Fed. Cir. 26-1040 Panel Decision

ANTHONY M. AUGUSTA v. UNITED STATES

The Federal Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Anthony M. Augusta's complaint, holding that standalone due process claims do not provide a money-mandating source of law under the Tucker Act. The court further ruled that res judicata precluded his claims because they echoed issues previously litigated in his prior suits.

Civil Res Judicata Social Security
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Apr 14 2026
7th Cir. 22-3114 Panel Decision

Petrov v. Blanche

The Seventh Circuit affirmed the denial of Bato Petrov's petition for cancellation of removal, holding that he failed to prove the statutory requirement of exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to his U.S. citizen relatives. The court further ruled that the Board of Immigration Appeals acted within its discretion in rejecting Petrov's motion to reopen the case as untimely and insufficiently probative.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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