Garcia Morales v. Bondi

Garcia Morales v. Bondi · United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · February 18, 2026 · No. 25-1760

Summary

The Ninth Circuit vacated submission of the case and ordered oral argument to be rescheduled for the week of March 23, 2026, in Pasadena, California. It directed the parties and invited amici curiae to file supplemental briefs addressing whether the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule, 8 C.F.R. § 1208.33(a), is consistent with the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1158.

Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Writing for the Court
Richard A. Paez; Patrick J. Bumatay; Mustafa T. Kasubhai
Jurisdiction
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Decision date
February 18, 2026
Docket number
25-1760
Procedural posture
The Ninth Circuit issued an interlocutory order in a petition for review of agency immigration proceedings, vacating the submission of the case, rescheduling oral argument, and directing supplemental briefing.
Precedential value
Published order; no merits holding stated in the document.
Parties
Lester J. Garcia Morales, Sheyla Monroy Tay, L. J. I. G. M., I. G. M., J. G. M. v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General
Disposition
other

Topics

asylumremoval proceedingsappellate procedurestatutory interpretationadministrative law

Practice areas

ImmigrationAdministrative lawAppellate procedure

Questions Presented

  1. Whether the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule, 8 C.F.R. § 1208.33(a), is consistent with the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1158.

Key quotations

The parties are ordered to file supplemental briefs of no more than fifteen pages addressing whether the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule, 8 C.F.R. § 1208.33(a), is consistent the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1158. (2)

Factual background

The opinion concerns petitioners in immigration proceedings who are challenging agency action. The court did not resolve the merits but requested briefing on whether the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule is consistent with the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Procedural history

The petition was pending before the Ninth Circuit following proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals. The court vacated submission, ordered oral argument to be rescheduled for the week of March 23, 2026, and required supplemental briefing on the legality of the Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule.

Court Document

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