Raj Patel

Correspondent

Raj Patel

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

Immigration & Government

Decisions covered by Raj Patel

470 decisions
Feb 19 2026
3rd Cir. 2:24-cv-01060 Panel Decision

EDWIN LEON v. NEHAMA HANOCH; CHEYENNE GOODMAN

The Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Edwin Leon's tort claims against former colleagues, ruling that a prior Delaware state court judgment precluded re-litigation of the underlying facts. The court held that the state court's findings that Leon physically and verbally abused Goodman barred his federal allegations of defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Civil Tort / Personal Injury
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Feb 18 2026
1st Cir. 14-1572 Panel Decision

NIRANJAN KHANAL; GITA KHANAL v. PAMELA J. BONDI, Attorney General

The First Circuit vacated the Board of Immigration Appeals' denial of asylum and related relief, ruling that the agency erred by relying solely on an adverse credibility finding while ignoring independent documentary and testimonial evidence. The court also held that the agency applied the incorrect legal standard to the withholding of removal claim by failing to conduct a purely objective assessment of future persecution.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 18 2026
1st Cir. 25-1267 Panel Decision

ROSA LIDIA CANTE MIJANGOS v. PAMELA J. BONDI, Attorney General

The First Circuit denied a petition for review of an asylum denial because the petitioner failed to develop specific legal or factual arguments challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals' nexus finding. The court held that without a developed argument connecting the abuse to the petitioner's protected status, the claim fails regardless of the severity of the harm suffered.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 13 2026
9th Cir. 25-1803 Unpublished

Carlos Mauricio Arevalo-Montano; K. S. A.-N.; E. T. M. N.; K. N. A.-N v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision rejecting asylum claims for an El Salvadoran father and his three children. The court held that the proposed social groups of Uber drivers and the Arevalo-Montano family failed to meet the legal requirements for cognizability and nexus to protected grounds.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 13 2026
United States Court… 24-5237 Panel Decision

EB5 HOLDINGS INC., ET AL. v. JOSEPH EDLOW, DIRECTOR, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

The D.C. Circuit affirmed that regional centers participating in the EB-5 visa program must pay the annual Integrity Fund fee, regardless of whether they were designated before the 2022 statutory overhaul. The court held that the statutory term 'designated' describes a current status of authorization rather than the specific historical moment of designation.

Administrative / Agency Review Civil
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Feb 11 2026
9th Cir. 17-70849 Unpublished

Torres-De Hernandez v. Bondi

The Ninth Circuit denied the petition for review, holding that substantial evidence supports the denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture relief. The court found the petitioner's threats insufficient to constitute past persecution and ruled that she forfeited her proposed social group claims by failing to properly argue them.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Feb 3 2026
7th Cir. 25-2976 Panel Decision

YVES AUBERT v. LAURIE LEE POAST

The Seventh Circuit held that district courts retain jurisdiction to grant or modify interim injunctive relief, such as visitation rights, while a Hague Convention child abduction appeal is pending. The court clarified that Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 62(d) and Appellate Rule 8(a)(1)(C) collectively empower the district court to manage equitable relief during the appellate process.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Jan 13 2026
United States Court… 24-1346 Panel Decision

CENTURYTEL OF MONTANA, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL UNION 768 Consolidat...

The D.C. Circuit denied CenturyTel's petition for review and granted enforcement of the NLRB's order, holding that the Board's finding of a violation of Sections 8(a)(5) and (1) of the National Labor Relations Act was supported by substantial evidence. The court concluded that CenturyTel improperly failed to furnish information regarding non-union technicians working within the Union's jurisdiction despite the collective bargaining agreement's provisions on crossing jurisdictional boundaries.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Jan 5 2026
11th Cir. 24-13788 Per Curiam

Ginna Alejandra Gutierrez-Mikan v. U.S. Attorney General

The Eleventh Circuit denied a petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals' decision rejecting asylum and Convention Against Torture claims by Colombian nationals. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency's finding that the Colombian government did not acquiesce to FARC violence and that the petitioner failed to meet procedural requirements for an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Dec 30 2025
United States Court… 24-1164 Panel Decision

INDEPENDENT MARKET MONITOR FOR PJM v. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION

The D.C. Circuit dismissed the Independent Market Monitor's petition for review because it lacked Article III standing to challenge FERC's decision. The court held that the monitor's alleged injury from exclusion was too speculative and failed to demonstrate a concrete, particularized harm traceable to the agency's order.

Civil Immigration (Civil) Standing
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