@immlaw.bsky.social
Author of "Immigration Law Explained" https://samsramblingss.substack.com/
A more recent decision about the prison mailbox rule, also Fifth Circuit. This guy REALLY tried to comply...
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/whats-the-...
Immigration appeal denied because the petitioner didn't say the magic words.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/whats-the-...
"Mr. Aguilar wasn’t targeted because he was a business owner. He was only targeted because he owned a business."
Sometimes the law is weird.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/law-is-weird
... But keep in mind that ever successful habeas petition means that somebody was illegally arrested, torn from their family, and held unconstitutionally, often in horrifying conditions, and often for many months.
31.01.2026 11:44 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0"Within FORTY-EIGHT (48) hours of this order, respondents must provide the Court with a declaration confirming that Petitioner has been released from custody and informing the Court of the date and time of his release.”
31.01.2026 11:44 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Seeing an absolute FLOOD of habeas wins in the district courts. Never get tired of reading this:
“Respondents must immediately RELEASE Petitioner from custody immediately, and may not re-detain Petitioner without notice and an opportunity to be heard."
Even when asylum is technically an option -- the courts don't always follow the law. Here's an example of a court using every trick in the book to deny a claim from a Venezuelan man who spent his life resisting Maduro.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-judicial...
I write a lot about what actually happens in the courts when families try to "follow the rules". Here's a dep dive into how one court bent the law to deny a legitimate asylum claim for a Venezuelan who dedicated his life to resisting Maduro:
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-judicial...
This one opinion contains so much judicial misconduct that it’s challenging to write about. I’ll do my best to break it down.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-judicial...
Wanted to share this -- an exploration of how gender-based asylum is actually heard by the courts (in which two Circuit Court judges literally remind their colleague that "no means no".)
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-bedlam-o...
Wanted to share this -- a writeup of a recent decision on gender-based asylum (in which two Circuit Court judges have to remind their colleague that "no means no".
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-bedlam-o...
Wow, it's as cold outside as an inappropriate simile.
25.01.2026 12:59 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Diaz arrived on August 27, 2005, heading for the Gulf Coast.
Two days later, Hurricane Katrina made landfall. The levees failed. New Orleans was under water. 1,400 people died. Adjusted for inflation, the cost of the damage was almost 0.3 Musks.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/and-to-thi...
In the U.S., informing on a gang would have been brave. In El Salvador, it was nothing short of heroic.
Ms. Gonzalez defied the gang. She trusted the police, they betrayed her. Her family paid a terrible price.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/greater-an...
Lots of organizations have been putting together KYR resources. Austin Kocher pulled them together into a single curated list.
austinkocher.substack.com/p/know-your-...
3/3: Top answers from boys:
#1: Technology
#2: Police
#3: Military
#4: Health care
#5: Immigration lawyer
#6: Construction
Other answers include "sound engineer with my own orchestra", "inventor", and "soccer player"
2/3: Top answers from girls
#1: Police
#2: Health care
#3: Teacher
#4: Military
#5: Immigration lawyer
#6: Beautician
Other answers include "firefighter", "paleontologist", and "dentist"
1/3: The last few years, I've worked on a lot of SIJS petitions. When I'm helping to draft the affidavit, I always ask the kid what they want to do when they grow up. It's become an unofficial, unscientific, and subjective poll. The results:
11.01.2026 14:43 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0"Here's the savvy on how and why China should acquire Hawaii".
"Here's how Cuba should acquire Guantanamo"
"Here's how Canada should acquire Alaska"
Amazing story from an immigration attorney defending a DV survivor.
unfunnylawyer.substack.com/p/seeds-plan...
Here's what Paul Matey -- Third Circuit, and a nasty piece of work -- has to say about Fifth and First Amendment rights for non-citizens. (Free link)
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/un-persons
At least a bit of good news on this, the Fourth Circuit found that there are duress and "de minimis" exceptions to the "material support for terrorism bar".
Ozurumba, enslaved and forced to cook for terrorists, isn't barred from asylum. Free link.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
Good decision on "material support for terrorism":
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/where-do-t...
In the words of the Court: "No immigrant should have to live over ten years with the uncertainty as to whether she can stay in this country or not."
Hear hear.
After ten years of litigation, the Circuit Court rebuffs the BIA and grants asylum.
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/the-saga-o...
ICE is furious because the Hilton cancelled their reservation because of ICE’s immigration enforcement activities.
05.01.2026 19:20 — 👍 1960 🔁 467 💬 172 📌 180My top nominee for worst translation: an affidavit which said that they had been persecuted because of their "piel morena", but the translator read "f" for "p".
Should have been "I was persecuted because of my brown skin".
But what was filed was "I was persecuted for being a faithful brunette."
The first genuinely nuanced view of the Venezuela strikes that I've found:
behindtheborder.substack.com/p/listening-...
To see how women's issues are *really* understood by immigration courts, check out the post below (free link).
In which one judge literally reminds another that "no means no".
(U.S. law, but the same thing probably happens in Britain).
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/a-bedlam-o...
Congratulations to Shanta Drive for her big win at the Sixth Circuit!
samsramblingss.substack.com/p/justice-de...
