Flores Ramirez v. Blanche — 9th Cir. (Jul 10, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit reviews Jose Manuel Flores Ramirez's denied asylum, withholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture claims. He will argue that the agency failed to consider the combined harm to him and his family, or his fear of future persecution based on political opinion and sexual orientation. The government will answer that his opening brief did not adequately develop those challenges. On July 31, 2026, the panel denied his petition for that reason; Judge Gabriel Sanchez dissented and would have sent the case back.
Flores Ramirez v. Blanche (No. 25-3804) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued July 10, 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/2026/07/10/25-3804.mp3
Argument listing — Ninth Circuit media archive:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-3804&hearingDate=2026-07-10
Decision — Flores Ramirez v. Blanche, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/memoranda/2026/07/31/25-3804.pdf
Particular-social-group standard — Garcia Demetrio v. Blanche, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2026/07/20/25-991.pdf
Substantial-evidence standard — Urias-Orellana v. Bondi, Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-777_9ol1.pdf
- 0:00Introduction
- 5:51Particular Social Group
- 14:16Substantial-Evidence Review