Refusal to Join Gang as a Particular Social Group and Political Opinion

In an unreported case before the San Antonio Immigration Court in 2004, Immigration Judge Susan E. Castro, found that the respondent was a member of a particular social group: young men who have been actively recruited by gangs, but who have refused to join because they oppose the gang. The IJ also found that respondent had a political opinion claim because  his “anti-gang opinions are political in nature. His refusal to join the MS is an expression of an ‘anti-crime’ opinion.” He was shot before he fled, so he also suffered past persecution. While this is an unreported immigration court decision, it still serves as a good model for practitioners. Respondent was represented by Karen J. Crawford. The full opinon can be downloaded here:

Download Matter of D-V-YoungMalePSG

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