[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A new rule from the U.S. Attorney General's office would make it more difficult for members of families targeted by gang violence to receive asylum in the United States.  A 2017 Board of Immigration Appeals decision recognized a Mexican national's family as a persecuted social group after his family was targeted by a drug cartel.  The U.S. Attorney General overturned this decision, arguing that for a family to qualify as a social group, it would need to be much larger and more prominent.  Social group claims will be limited to certain socially distinct clans or sub-clans.  It's unknown if any refugee from Mexico would meet this distinction. The U.S. Attorney General is given the power to oversee rulings from immigration courts.  The Attorney General's ruling does not change the particular situation for the asylum applicant in question, who's application was denied for other reasons.  But the ruling will restrict available options for future asylum applications. See the full news story here. There have been several recent rulings that would appear to make asylum more difficult to claim for most people.  Though many asylum limitations have been temporarily halted by the courts, the trend towards less approved cases of asylum is obvious.  One thing that can greatly improve the chances of receiving asylum is to hire an immigration attorney.  The Law Offices of Scott Warmuth will hear your story and help you determine the best ways to pursue your asylum claim.  Call us today at 888-517-9888 to receive a free consultation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]