Emergency application
Protection from torture
Adrian Cabrera Espinoza v. Pamela Bondi, Attorney General
What did the Court do?
The Court denied the request on March 19, 2026: the lower court's ruling stays in effect while the appeal continues.
Emergency rulings are temporary and do not decide the underlying case.
What's being asked
Adrian Cabrera Espinoza, a lawful permanent resident, asked the Supreme Court to pause his deportation to Mexico while he seeks Supreme Court review. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is the other named party. His application says the immigration appeals board refused to reopen his deportation case so he could seek protection from torture. He says he fears torture if deported to Mexico, and the Ninth Circuit upheld the board’s refusal.
What the Court did
Justice Kagan refused emergency help, denying (turning down) Cabrera Espinoza’s request for a temporary pause on his deportation. This does not decide whether the Court will review the case; the Court did not publish how the justices voted.
What it means
This emergency ruling addresses only whether to pause deportation; it does not decide who wins the underlying case. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling remains in place. No related case on the main legal questions is listed, and no court argument is scheduled.
Sources
Facts on this page come from the Supreme Court docket, orders, and opinions for No. 25A1027. The answers restate that record in plain words; explainer copy is written from the record and the filings only.