Case Explained: Angelica Romero-Romero; D.R.R.; K.R.R.; Ismael Romero-Romero; Liseth Claudia Romero-Romero; Judith Mischel Romero-Romero v. Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General of the United States1

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-15

The eighth-circuit denied the petition for review of an order by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirming the denial of asylum and withholding of removal to Guatemalan citizens Angelica Romero-Romero and her family members. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency’s finding that the petitioners failed to demonstrate that the Guatemalan government was unable or unwilling to control the private actor they feared, specifically noting their failure to report abuse to authorities and a lack of documentary evidence showing the government’s inability to protect evangelical Christians. Additionally, the court rejected the argument that reporting would have been futile because this claim was unexhausted, as it relied on facts and arguments not presented during the administrative proceedings. Consequently, the petition is denied pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(A) and (d)(1), which limit judicial review to the administrative record and require exhaustion of administrative remedies.

Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.