Case Explained: VALADEZ PRADO V. BLANCHE

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Filed: 2026-06-24 The Ninth Circuit denied the petition for review of a Board of Immigration Appeals order denying Juan Rene Valadez Prado’s application for cancellation of removal. The court held that substantial evidence supported the agency’s determination that Prado failed to demonstrate that his removal would cause “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to his qualifying relatives under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(D). Applying the standard from *Gonzalez-Juarez v. Bondi*, the court found that the record did not compel a conclusion contrary to the agency’s findings, specifically noting that while Prado’s family would suffer anxiety from separation, such hardship is not uncommon and Prado provided no evidence of serious medical conditions for his relatives. The court further ruled it lacked jurisdiction to review challenges to the agency’s factual findings regarding his wife’s anxiety or his son’s medical condition pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i) and *Gonzalez-Juarez*. As a result, the petition is denied, leaving the BIA’s order denying relief in place and Prado subject to removal proceedings. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.