Jose Baca-Hernandez v. Todd Blanche — 9th Cir. (Jul 30, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit reviews two consolidated immigration petitions from Jose Alberto Baca-Hernandez. He challenges the denial of asylum and related protection, and the rejection of his second request to reopen the case, arguing that signs of incompetency were ignored during his original hearing without a lawyer. On August 14, 2026, the panel granted both petitions and remanded. It held that his blindness, memory problems, and statements of confusion were enough, taken together, to require the immigration judge to investigate whether he was competent to participate.
Jose Baca-Hernandez v. Todd Blanche (No. 17-70944 & 19-72950) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued July 30, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/07/30/17-70944.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=17-70944&hearingDate=2026-07-30
Hearing calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-day/?date=2026-07-30&loc=SF
Memorandum disposition — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/08/14/17-70944.pdf
Matter of M-A-M- — Board of Immigration Appeals:https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2014/07/25/3711.pdf
Ted Durant identification — DOJ Immigration Litigation Bulletin:https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/civil/legacy/2014/10/17/July_2011.pdf
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:42Advocate — Petitioner's Counsel
- 3:08Matter of M-A-M-
- 15:21Advocate — Ted Durant