Matter of L-E-A- Legal Arguments

NB: Open PDF for a quick view. Download Word Doc to copy & paste stuff.

UPDATE: Practice Pointers following Garland’s vacating of L-E-A- and A-B- (PDF)

Notes: Matter of L-E-A- arguments applied to El Salvadoran respondent’s case (PDF)

• Matter of L-E-A- arguments applied to El Salvadoran respondent’s case (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: These notes are specific to one particular case (no identifiers) for purposes of planning a BIA appeal, but may be of general interest as well.

Notes: Matter of L-E-A- arguments applied to Erwin’s case (PDF)

• Matter of L-E-A- arguments applied to Erwin’s case (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: Describes the goals & prongs of a legal argument opposing L-E-A-.

Summary of Practice Pointer by CLINIC on Matter of L-E-A- (PDF)

• Summary (Word Doc)

Brief: Matter of L-E-A-, 27 I&N Dec. 40 (BIA 2017) (PDF)

• Matter of L-E-A-, 27 I&N Dec. 40 (BIA 2017) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: A.G. has decided that a family unit does not normally qualify as a “socially distinct” group for purposes of PSG. Main holding says that each case must be decided individually and according to the criteria set forth in Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 227 (BIA 2014). 
• Quotable Quotes from Matter of L-E-A- (PDF)
  • Quotable Quotes from Matter of L-E-A- (Word Doc)

Brief: Matter of W-R-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 208 (BIA 2014)(PDF)

• Matter of W-R-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 208 (BIA 2014) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take:  A PSG must be defined narrowly enough to be “particular” and must be recognized as “socially distinct.”

Brief: Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 227 (BIA 2014) (PDF)

• Matter of M-E-V-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 227 (BIA 2014) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take:  A PSG must be “socially distinct,” which does not necessarily mean ocularly visible to the surrounding society.

Brief: Hernandez Avalos v. Lynch, 784 F.3d 944 (4th Cir. 2015) (PDF)

• Hernandez Avalos v. Lynch, 784 F.3d 944 (4th Cir. 2015) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: Family unit is a PSG, of course! (Pre-L-E-A- case) Mother threatened by gangs because she refused to let her son be recruited.

Brief: Salgado-Sosa v. Sessions, 882 F.3d 451 (4th Cir. 2018) (PDF)

• Salgado-Sosa v. Sessions, 882 F.3d 451 (4th Cir. 2018) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: Family unit is assumed to be a PSG. (A few months shy of L-E-A-!) Gangs extorted protection money from convenience store owner; his stepson sought asylum because of persecution by gangs.

Brief: Zavaleta Policiano v. Sessions, 873 F.3d 241 (4^th Cir. 2017) (PDF)

• Zavaleta Policiano v. Sessions, 873 F.3d 241 (4^th Cir. 2017) (Word Doc)
• Quick Take: Family unit is acknowledged as a PSG. (Pre-L-E-A- again!) Gangs extorted protection money and threatened family of store owner.