Eugenio Alonso-Juarez v. Pamela Bondi

Circuit 8Mar 12, 2026

Split Score

SplitScore: 60/100

Case Summary

Disposition

Affirmed

The Eighth Circuit denied Eugenio Alonso-Juarez’s petition for review, upholding the Board of Immigration Appeals’ refusal to continue removal proceedings and its finding that deportation would not impose "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" on his U.S.-citizen children. In doing so, the court identified the proper standard of appellate review for post-Wilkinson hardship determinations and held that they are reviewed for substantial evidence.

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Circuit Split Identified

Legal Issue

What standard of appellate review applies to the BIA’s determination that an alien failed to establish "exceptional and extremely unusual hardship" for purposes of cancellation of removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b)(1)(D) after Wilkinson v. Garland (2024).

Circuit Positions

Circuit 3Circuit 8(this circuit)Circuit 9Circuit 11

Review hardship determinations for substantial evidence.

Circuit 2

Review hardship determinations for clear error.

Conflict Summary

Most circuits to consider the question hold that the hardship determination is a fact-intensive mixed question reviewed for substantial evidence under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(b)(4)(B), whereas the Second Circuit applies clear-error review.

Parties & Counsel

Parties

Appellant:Eugenio Alonso-Juarez
Appellee:Pamela Bondi, Attorney General of the United States