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 13 2026
9th Cir. 20-71270 Unpublished

WAYNER BAUDILIO CANO-CARDONA v. TODD BLANCHE, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied Wayner Baudilio Cano-Cardona's petitions for review, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals' refusal to grant asylum and related relief. The court found that gang recruitment attempts were motivated by criminal intent rather than a protected ground, and that the petitioner failed to meet the legal standards for withholding of removal or Convention Against Torture protection.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 13 2026
11th Cir. 1:25-cv-24087-BB Per Curiam

JOHNNY TEIXEIRA JARDIM v. BARBARA YAILYN PEREZ PAEZ

The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district court's order returning two children to Venezuela under the Hague Convention, ruling that the mother failed to meet her burden of proving any affirmative defense. The court held that a party cannot reopen a final judgment under Rule 60(b) simply because their prior counsel made a strategic decision to concede a specific defense at trial.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Apr 10 2026
Fed. Cir. 26-1470 Panel Decision

SOMONA MARIE LOFTON v. UNITED STATES 2026-1470

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit dismissed an appeal because the appellant failed to pay the required docketing fee within the time allowed by court rules. This procedural failure resulted in a dismissal without the court addressing the merits of the underlying claim.

Civil Other Civil
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Apr 10 2026
4th Cir. 25-1469 Panel Decision

Geneva Enterprises, LLC v. Chavez

The Fourth Circuit dismissed an appeal by former employees challenging a district court order that maintained a stay of litigation pending arbitration. The court held that the order was not appealable because it effectively directed the parties to proceed with arbitration rather than denying a motion to compel it.

Appellate Jurisdiction Civil Labor
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Apr 10 2026
9th Cir. 25-1683 Unpublished

Digna Marina Sorto-Cruz; Erika Xiomara Ramirez-Sorto v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of an asylum and Convention Against Torture denial, ruling that the petitioner failed to exhaust administrative remedies regarding the government's ability to control gang persecution. The court also upheld the agency's finding that the petitioner did not meet the high burden required to prove she would likely be tortured if returned to El Salvador.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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