Central American Family Law Codes
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CLINIC has played a key role in fighting against constraints placed on asylum seekers. After the attorney general issued Matter of L-E-A-II, 27 I&N Dec. 581 (AG 2019), which has subsequently been vacated by Matter of L-E-A- III, 28 I&N Dec. 304 (AG 2021), it became more difficult to prove that a family group membership could qualify as a particular social group. To assist with this evidentiary burden, CLINIC has translated Title II of the Salvadoran Civil Code entitled “Rules Relative to Intestate Succession,” which may help practitioners establish a cognizable family-based particular social group on behalf of Salvadoran clients. Likewise, CLINIC has translated sections of the Guatemalan Civil Code pertaining to family law. While Matter of L-E-A-II is no longer in effect, understanding the law that governs family relationships can still help prove social distinction for particular social group asylum claims and may be of value for family-based immigration petitions.