California Attorney Wins Landmark Ruling Protecting Torture Claims for Millions

Zulu Ali's victory in Hermosillo v. Garland case reshapes immigration law across 9th Circuit

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:05pm

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Zulu Ali, a criminal defense and immigration attorney in Riverside, California, won a landmark federal appeals court ruling in September 2023 that reshaped how immigration judges across nine states must handle torture claims. The 9th Circuit's published decision in Hermosillo v. Garland requires judges to provide a full evidentiary hearing before dismissing torture claims, affecting the cases of roughly 60 million people living within the circuit's jurisdiction.

Why it matters

The Hermosillo ruling is significant because it addresses the institutional resistance many immigrants face in immigration courts, where torture claims are often dismissed on procedural grounds before the merits are heard. By requiring a full hearing, the decision helps ensure that immigrants facing deportation to countries where they face credible threats of torture have their cases properly considered.

The details

In the Hermosillo v. Garland case, Ali argued that the U.N. Convention Against Torture requires immigration judges to provide a full evidentiary hearing before dismissing torture claims. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed, ruling 2-1 in Ali's favor and remanding the case with instructions to that effect. This published decision now sets a binding legal precedent for all immigration courts within the 9th Circuit's jurisdiction, which covers California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Hawaii and two U.S. territories.

  • The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down its published decision in Hermosillo v. Garland on September 14, 2023.
  • Ali had been arguing the legal position he prevailed on for years prior to the Hermosillo ruling.

The players

Zulu Ali

A former Marine and police officer who runs a criminal defense and immigration law firm in Riverside, California. He was the attorney who won the Hermosillo v. Garland case, establishing a new legal standard for torture claims in immigration proceedings across the 9th Circuit.

Eric Hermosillo

The petitioner in the Hermosillo v. Garland case, whose torture claim was at the center of the landmark 9th Circuit ruling.

Merrick Garland

The U.S. Attorney General who was the named defendant in the Hermosillo v. Garland case.

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What they’re saying

“The law was clear to me from the beginning. The Convention Against Torture exists precisely for cases like this. The resistance wasn't legal. It was institutional.”

— Zulu Ali, Attorney

“Immigration consequences don't stop at the California border. When a client faces deportation, their case can touch federal courts across multiple circuits. You have to be ready to go wherever the case demands.”

— Zulu Ali, Attorney

What’s next

The Hermosillo v. Garland ruling is now binding precedent for all immigration courts within the 9th Circuit's jurisdiction, meaning judges must provide full evidentiary hearings before dismissing torture claims. This will impact the cases of millions of immigrants facing deportation to countries where they fear torture.

The takeaway

Zulu Ali's victory in the Hermosillo case demonstrates how a single determined attorney can make a significant impact, reshaping the legal landscape for vulnerable immigrants across a vast region. The ruling helps ensure torture claims receive proper consideration, rather than being dismissed on procedural grounds, potentially saving lives in the process.