4th Circuit Finds Domestic Violence can be Legitimate Asylum Claim

The Fourth Circuit issued a published decision (which means it has precedential value which must be followed by judges within the 4th Circuit) which finds a claim of asylum based on the Salvadoran government’s inability to protect a woman from domestic violence is a proper basis for a grant of asylum. The Case, (Ruth Jeanette Orellana v. William Barr (http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/181513.P.pdf) , was …

Virginia Law Criminalizing Gang Activity Not Categorically a CIMT

 On July 19, 2019 the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision finding that the Virginia offense of participating in criminal street gang activity is not categorically a crime involving moral turpitude. The Virginia statute,  Va. Code § 18.2-46.2(A), which prohibits participation in a criminal street gang, is as follows: Any person who actively participates in or is a member …

Immig Judges’ Authority to Administratively Close Restored

The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has restored Administrative Closure as an inherent power of Immigration Court judges, effectively overruling the current administration’s attempt to preclude this standard procedure.  This tool permits adjudication of pending applications by temporarilly suspending immigration court proceedings. This is a very good decision for persons in immigration court proceedings because when there is potential …

EB-5 Q&A: What qualifies as an EB-5 troubled business?

Answer: A troubled business is defined as a business that has been in existence for at least two years, has incurred a net loss for accounting purposes during the twelve-or twenty-four month period prior to the priority date on the foreign investor’s I-526, and the loss for such period is at least equal to twenty percent of the troubled business’s …