Mohammed Basheer v. Todd Blanche — 4th Cir. (Sep 16, 2026)

No. 25-1804 Argued September 16, 2026 Published October 10, 2026

The Fourth Circuit reviews an immigration agency's treatment of a Virginia marijuana offense. The case had already returned to the agency for another review. On remand, the agency determined that violations of the statute at issue categorically involve moral turpitude. That label refers to seriously reprehensible conduct, not merely anything illegal, and it can carry serious immigration consequences. The petitioner challenges that classification. The Virginia statute covers selling or giving marijuana, and possessing it with intent to distribute. A categorical test focuses on the offense defined by the statute, rather than retrying a person's actual conduct. The question is whether even the least culpable conduct covered by the law necessarily meets that serious standard.

Mohammed Basheer v. Todd Blanche (No. 25-1804) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, argued September 16, 2026.

Sources

Court-original argument audio — Fourth Circuit:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/OAarchive/mp3/25-1804-20260916.mp3

Case and argument date — Fourth Circuit recording listing:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/oral-argument/oral-argument-audio-files

Prior agency remand and classification — Fourth Circuit September calendar, page 10:https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/cal/internetcalSept142026.pdf

Virginia marijuana-distribution statute — Code of Virginia § 18.2-248.1:https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter7/section18.2-248.1/

Moral turpitude and categorical analysis — Matter of Silva-Trevino, pages 831–834:https://www.justice.gov/eoir/file/902461/dl

Categorical approach — Moncrieffe v. Holder, majority opinion § II A:https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/11-702

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