Raj Patel

Correspondent

Raj Patel

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

Immigration & Government

Decisions covered by Raj Patel

478 decisions
Mar 22 2024
9th Cir. 22-211 Published

AJAY PAL SINGH v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit held that the Board of Immigration Appeals erred by failing to apply the presumption of past persecution and shifting the burden to the government regarding internal relocation for an asylum seeker from India. The court remanded the case for a reasoned, individualized analysis of whether the petitioner could safely relocate within India given his continued political advocacy, while affirming the denial of Convention Against Torture relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Mar 19 2024
9th Cir. 22-970 Published

SILVIA TAPIA CORIA v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit dismissed a petition for review of a denial of motions for remand and administrative closure, holding that the criminal alien bar precludes judicial review of factual challenges to removal orders for aliens with covered convictions. The court ruled that the Supreme Court's decision in Nasrallah v. Barr abrogates the Ninth Circuit's prior 'on the merits' exception, which previously allowed review of factual findings when relief was denied on grounds other than the conviction itself.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Dec 28 2023
9th Cir. 21-411 Published

FILIBERTO ALCAREZ- RODRIGUEZ v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit held that the Board of Immigration Appeals abused its discretion by denying a motion to remand without addressing evidence of unavailability due to homelessness or evaluating good cause under Matter of R-C-R-. The court remanded the case for the BIA to properly consider whether the petitioner established prima facie eligibility for asylum and related relief.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Sep 14 2023
9th Cir. 21-1098 Published

PETR VASILYEVICH RUDNITSKYY v. MERRICK GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit denied a petition for review, holding that the stop-time rule for cancellation of removal is triggered by the date a criminal offense is committed, not the date of conviction. This ruling confirms that a lawful permanent resident is ineligible for relief if the offense occurred within seven years of admission, even if the conviction finalizes after that period.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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Jun 7 2023
9th Cir. 21-584 Published

SERGEY NIKO ZHOVTONIZHKO v. MERRICK B. GARLAND, Attorney General

The Ninth Circuit held that the Board of Immigration Appeals erred by relying on outdated precedent to classify Washington's current reckless driving statute as a crime involving moral turpitude. The court found that the statute's 'reckless manner' element reflects a lower mental state than the 'wanton or willful disregard' standard required by prior BIA rulings.

Civil Immigration (Civil)
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