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Pedro L. Almonte Bueno v. Todd Blanche — 2d Cir. (argued September 2, 2026)

No. 24-3226 / 25-551 Argued September 2, 2026 Published September 2, 2026

The Second Circuit considers whether a New York methamphetamine conviction matches the federal controlled-substance definition for immigration purposes. New York law refers to methamphetamine and its isomers; federal law generally limits isomer here to an optical isomer. Isomers have the same molecular formula but different atomic arrangements; optical isomers are mirror-image forms. Aaron J. Aisen of the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project will represent Pedro L. Almonte Bueno.

Pedro L. Almonte Bueno v. Todd Blanche (No. 24-3226 / 25-551) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 2, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/24-3226,%2025-551.mp3
Argument record — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html
Argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://www.huntcal.com/cal/eventview/USCA2/USCA2?yr=2026&id=784737713&v=d&d=2&m=9&s=l
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca2/24-3226
New York Public Health Law § 3306 — New York State Senate:https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PBH/3306
21 U.S.C. § 802 — U.S. House Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title21-section802&num=0&edition=prelim
United States v. Minter — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/OPN/21-3102_opn.pdf
Mathis v. United States — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/579BV.pdf
Aaron J. Aisen appearance — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/SUM/24-2806_so.pdf
Aaron Aisen staff listing — ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project:https://ecbavlp.com/about/staff/
Imran R. Zaidi appearance — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/OPN/23-6837_opn.pdf
Isomer definition — IUPAC:https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/I03289
Enantiomer definition — IUPAC:https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/E02069
Isomer reference — National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences:https://tools.niehs.nih.gov/srp/1/ResearchBriefs/PDFs/RB197_def2_508.pdf
Isomerism reference — PubMed Central:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5869253/
Opinion search — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions.html

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