Case Explained: LESVI LUCIA MONZON GUZMAN v. TODD BLANCHE,* Acting Attorney General

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Filed: 2026-08-07 The First Circuit denied Lesvi Lucia Monzon Guzman’s petition for review challenging the Board of Immigration Appeals’ (BIA) dismissal of her appeal from an immigration judge’s denial of asylum, withholding of removal, and humanitarian asylum. The court held that substantial evidence supports the agency’s conclusion that there was no nexus between the persecution Monzon alleged and a statutorily protected ground, rendering her claims legally insufficient. The court applied the “one central reason” standard under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which requires an applicant to prove that race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion was at least one central reason for the persecution. Reviewing the agency’s factual findings under the substantial evidence standard, the court found that Monzon failed to establish this nexus regarding her claims of gender-based harm, familial ties, or political opinion. Specifically, the court determined that the gang robberies were motivated by financial gain rather than protected characteristics, and the threats from Juan Carlos Campos Jurado were motivated by revenge for reporting his crimes rather than her family membership or political views. The court further ruled that because Monzon failed to demonstrate persecution on account of a protected ground, she was ineligible for humanitarian asylum, which requires a prerequisite showing of past persecution linked to a protected ground. As a practical consequence, the petition is denied, and the BIA’s order dismissing Monzon’s appeal remains in effect, leaving her without the requested relief from removal. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.