Immigration law updates, week of October 19, 2026

New decisions, regulations, agency guidance, and court orders from October 19 through October 25, 2026, from official sources.

Saved November 3, 2026. This page starts on October 20, the oldest day the two-week list held when the week was first saved. The past two weeks · All weeks

1BIA precedent decision
0Supreme Court actions
13Federal court decisions
1Federal Register document
5Agency guidance updates

20 developments this week, newest first.

Friday, October 23

1st Cir.Published opinion

United States v. Barros Brandao

No. 25-1486

On appeal, Brandao argues that the district court should have (1) provided a missing witness instruction based on the absence of a witness from the Cape Verdean government; (2) questioned potential jurors about possible bias stemming from the introduction of evidence about the pending homicide charges; and (3) excluded evidence about, or reference to, the homicide charges as unduly prejudicial. We disagree with Brandao's first argument but agree with the other two. Nevertheless, because of the overwhelming evidence demonstrating Brandao's guilt, we conclude that the identified errors were harmless.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
5th Cir.Published opinion

Detention and enforcement

Ignacio Sosnava Rodriguez v. Miguel Vergara

No. 26-50183

We now conclude that Petitioners were not entitled to individual hearings on their dangerousness or flight risk before they could be lawfully detained by immigration authorities pending their removal proceedings. Moreover, the duration of Petitioners’ detention presented no constitutional issues warranting habeas relief. Accordingly, we reverse the district courts’ decisions and vacate their grants of habeas relief.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
9th Cir.Published opinion

Asylum, refugees and TPS

A. M. v. Blanche

No. 25-5415

Because the agency misunderstood A.M.’s proposed social group and failed to provide A.M. notice and an opportunity to corroborate his claims, its determinations are not supported by substantial evidence.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
9th Cir.Court of appeals

Removal defense

A.M. v. Todd Blanche

No. 25-5415

Ninth Circuit granted review and remanded protection claims

Ruling
USCISPolicy Manual update

Family and citizenship

Definition of Day for Purposes of Filing Deadlines

This technical update incorporates into Volume 1 the policy guidance that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on September 23, 2026 clarifying how USCIS applies the regulatory definition of “day” to filing deadlines. This policy became effective October 23, 2026.

From the notice
SourcePolicy Manual chapter

Thursday, October 22

BIAPrecedent decision

Detention and enforcement

Matter of Chamorro Castillo

30 I&N Dec. 170

When mail sent to the only address in the record provided for a respondent is returned as undeliverable, there are no additional reasonably available or practicable steps the Board or an Immigration Court can take to effect notice.

Headnote
Decision (PDF)
5th Cir.Published opinion

La Union v. FEMA

No. 24-40756

We conclude that, on the record before us, LUPE has plausibly alleged that FEMA has a practice of failing to comply with FOIA’s reading-room provision. We thus REVERSE the district court’s grant, in part, of FEMA’s motion, as well as the district court’s dismissal of the case with prejudice. However, these findings do not necessitate the legal relief LUPE requests, since additional record development is needed and equitable relief is in the sound discretion of the district court.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
State Dept.Press release

Additional Visa Restrictions on Bolivian Individuals to Defend Our Hemisphere Against Corruption and Narcotrafficking

Today, the Department of State is expanding its campaign against corruption and narcotrafficking in our region. These actions advance the commitments partners made at the Doral Summit in March and in the September 22 Shield of the Americas leaders’ statement. The Department is imposing visa restrictions on 40 individuals in Bolivia under the policy announced on September 28 pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. That policy targets foreign nationals who, through corruption or narcotrafficking activities, undermine democratically elected governments in our hemisphere — regardless of their political affiliation.

From the notice
Source
State Dept.Press release

Additional Visa Restrictions on Colombian Individuals to Defend Our Hemisphere Against Corruption and Narcotrafficking

Today, the Department of State is expanding its campaign against corruption and narcotrafficking in our region. These actions advance the commitments partners made at the Doral Summit in March and in the September 22 Shield of the Americas leaders’ statement. The Department is imposing visa restrictions on 21 individuals in Colombia under the policy announced on September 28 pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. That policy targets foreign nationals who, through corruption or narcotrafficking activities, undermine democratically elected governments in our hemisphere — regardless of their political affiliation.

From the notice
Source

Wednesday, October 21

10th Cir.Published opinion

Abedi v. Carter, et al.

No. 25-3179

For the reasons discussed below, we conclude that Mr. Abedi’s release from detention was governed by 8 C.F.R. § 241.13 and that the Government violated the due process protections established in this regulation by failing to provide Mr. Abedi with a prompt informal interview when it revoked his release. We further conclude that this due process violation entitled Mr. Abedi to declaratory and habeas relief. We therefore reverse the district court’s denial of relief to Mr. Abedi on this issue.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)

Tuesday, October 20

5th Cir.Published opinion

Asylum, refugees and TPS

Hayatullah Zahid v. Todd Wallace Blanche

No. 25-60296

We find no error in the BIA’s denial of CAT relief and no abuse of discretion in its denial of remand or reconsideration. The petitions for review are therefore DENIED.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
D.C. Cir.Published opinion

Detention and enforcement

Mennonite Church USA v. DHS

No. 25-5209

We focus on plaintiffs’ allegations of harm to their members from the imminence of increased enforcement actions, and we hold that all plaintiffs likely have associational standing under that theory to pursue both forms of relief that they seek — i.e., a reversion to the Mayorkas Memo’s Sensitive Locations Policy and an order prohibiting the government from conducting enforcement operations at houses of worship in the absence of a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances.

From the opinion
Opinion (PDF)
Week of October 26, 2026

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