U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Bantes v. Blanche

September 9, 2026

Summary

The Second Circuit denied the petition for review, affirming the BIA’s denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and CAT relief. It held that the Immigration Judge correctly applied the mixed‑motives “one central reason” standard and properly abandoned the anti‑gang political opinion claim, while noting an error in the agency’s application of the unwilling‑or‑unable standard for CAT relief.