⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Ana Maria Melgar Vasquez v. Todd W. Blanche — 7th Cir. (argued September 10, 2026)

No. 25-3349 Argued September 10, 2026 Published September 11, 2026

The Seventh Circuit reviews Ana Maria Melgar Vasquez's petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision. When persecution comes from a private person, an asylum applicant must show that the home government was unable or unwilling to control the persecutor. The dispute centers on that rule, her failure to report the abuse to police, and her claim that reporting would have been futile. The judges also discuss particular social group, a protected ground, and nexus, the required link between the persecution and that ground.

Ana Maria Melgar Vasquez v. Todd W. Blanche (No. 25-3349) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 10, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/nv.25-3349.25-3349_09_10_2026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/25-3349
8 U.S.C. § 1101 — Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1101&num=0&edition=prelim
8 U.S.C. § 1158 — Office of the Law Revision Counsel:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1158&num=0&edition=prelim
Osorio-Morales v. Garland — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Path=Y2023/D07-05/C:22-2909:J:St__Eve:aut:T:fnOp:N:3069887:S:0&Submit=Display
Nerio Flores v. Garland — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Path=Y2023/D10-03/C:22-2434:J:Kirsch:aut:T:fnOp:N:3112244:S:0&Submit=Display
Martinez-Martinez v. Bondi — Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/OpinionsWeb/processWebInputExternal.pl?Path=Y2025/D08-14/C:24-3281:J:Maldonado:aut:T:fnOp:N:3411464:S:0&Submit=Display

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