Background
Moises Mejia Amaya, a native and citizen of El Salvador, petitioned for review of an order by the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissing his appeal from an Immigration Judge’s denial of applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture.
The court’s reasoning
The court noted that under Fourth Circuit rules, review is limited to issues preserved in the informal brief. Because the petitioner’s informal brief did not challenge the Board’s reasons for upholding the Immigration Judge’s denial, the petitioner forfeited appellate review of the Board’s order.
The informal brief is an important document; under Fourth Circuit rules, our review is limited to issues preserved in that brief.
Jackson v. Lightsey, 775 F.3d 170, 177 (4th Cir. 2014)
What it means going forward
The denial of the petition means the Board of Immigration Appeals’ order dismissing the appeal remains in effect, leaving the Immigration Judge’s denial of relief intact.