Ricardo Hernandez-Mendez v. Todd Blanche — 4th Cir. (Sep 15, 2026)

No. 25-1648 Argued September 15, 2026 Published September 28, 2026

The Fourth Circuit hears Ricardo Hernandez-Mendez's immigration appeal. He faces removal to El Salvador and says his visible gang tattoos make detention and torture there more likely. An immigration judge found he would probably be tortured there and granted him protection under the Convention Against Torture. The Board of Immigration Appeals reversed that ruling. A second, consolidated petition asks whether the Board should have reopened the case to consider new evidence. The judges now consider whether the Board improperly reweighed the immigration judge's factual prediction and whether it fairly handled the new evidence.

Ricardo Hernandez-Mendez v. Todd Blanche (No. 25-1648) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued September 15, 2026.

Sources

Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-1648-20260915.mp3

Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files

Appellate docket 25-1648 — PACER-derived Justia record:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca4/25-1648

Consolidated appellate docket 25-2410 — PACER-derived Justia record:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca4/25-2410

Amicus brief of former immigration judges and Board members:https://immigrationcourtside.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CORRECTED-Hernandez-Mendez-Roundtable-Amicus-Brief-Fourth-Circuit-FINAL.pdf

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