Urias-Orellana v. Bondi | Asylum Authority Showdown: Cartel Violence and Court Deference | Oral Argument Date: 12/1/25 | Docket Link: Here

Overview

In this case, the Supreme Court must decide whether federal courts must defer to immigration officials when determining if undisputed facts constitute "persecution" under asylum law, or whether courts should make independent legal determinations. The case involves a Salvadoran family who fled years of cartel violence, including death threats and physical attacks, but were denied asylum when the Board of Immigration Appeals concluded their experiences didn't rise to the level of persecution. This decision will affect hundreds of thousands of asylum cases and could reshape the relationship between agency expertise and judicial review in immigration law.

Oral Advocates:

• For Petitioner (Urias-Orellana): For petitioners: Nicholas Rosellini, San Francisco, CA
• For Respondent (United States): For respondent: Joshua Dos Santos, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Link to Opinion: TBD.

Website Link to Opinion Summary: TBD.

Website Link to Oral Argument: TBD.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Oral Argument Preview

[01:10] Oral Argument Begins

[01:20] Petitioner Opening Statement

[03:25] Petitioner Free for All Questions

[26:30] Petitioner Round Robin Questions

[35:09] Respondent Opening Statement

[38:39] Respondent Free for All Questions

[54:30] Respondent Round Robin Questions

[54:41] Petitioner Rebuttal