The Department of Justice took a quiet step earlier this week that could make it even more difficult for some immigrants to seek asylum. One immigration attorney called the decision "deeply troubling" and said it may have sweeping, negative impacts for Central American asylum seekers, a group that's already been targeted by the Trump administration and has disproportionately high denial rates.
In a one-page Department of Justice filing on Monday evening, Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker announced with little fanfare that he would "certify" the case called the "Matter of L-E-A-", referring the case to himself for a final decision on its outcome. To aid in his review, Whitaker invited both involved and interested parties to file briefs on the case, particularly "under what circumstances, an alien may establish persecution on account of membership in a 'particular social group'... based on the alien's membership in a family unit."
Here's what that actually means.