Particularity Requirement

24 I&N Dec. 579 (BIA 2008) · 2008

Salvadoran youth who resist gang recruitment and family members of such youth do not constitute cognizable PSGs; the proposed groups lacked the required particularity and social visibility.

Companion to Matter of E-A-G-. Applied new social visibility and particularity requirements to gang-based claims.

26 I&N Dec. 227 (BIA 2014) · 2014

Clarified that the PSG requirements are 'social distinction' (not social visibility) and 'particularity'; a group need not be visible or recognizable by others but must be perceived as a distinct group in the relevant society.

Renamed 'social visibility' to 'social distinction' to clarify that the inquiry is about social perception, not literal visibility.

26 I&N Dec. 208 (BIA 2014) · 2014

Former members of Salvadoran youth gangs who have renounced their membership do not constitute a cognizable PSG because the group lacks particularity and social distinction.

Companion to M-E-V-G-. Applied the reformulated PSG standards to former gang member claims.