Arguijo v. USCIS (July 24 2020) US Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
The National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) represents Jennifer Arguijo, who was 11 years old when her mother married her stepfather, who turned out to be abusive. Applying BIA case law from other contexts, VSC held that a stepchild-stepfather relationship ends after the biological parent divorces the stepparent, unless there is a “continuing relationship” between the stepchild and stepfather. NIJC sought reconsideration, and appealed to the AAO. The AAO affirmed the VSC’s decision to deny the
Why it matters
Useful as an amicus or advocacy example on Removal Defense; confirm the cited authority and procedural posture before adapting it.
Topics
Removal defense
BIA appeals
Federal court
VAWA / U / T
Forums
USCIS
Immigration court
BIA
Court of appeals
Jurisdictions
7th Circuit