Family unit asylum ruling [9th Circuit] News
Family unit asylum ruling [9th Circuit]

Thomas, et al. v. Gonzales, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, June 3, 2005 [ruling holding that a family unit can be "a protected social group" under federal asylum law]. Excerpt:

We hold that family membership may constitute membership in a "particular social group," and thus confer refugee status on a family member who has been persecuted or who has a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of that familial relationship.

Read the full text of the opinion here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.