On September 22, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued Matter of Mendez Maldonado, a precedent decision that changes how admissions about past drug use can be used against green card and visa applicants. The takeaway is simple, and serious: no arrest, no charge, and no conviction are required. A legally sufficient admission can be enough. What the BIA Decided Under INA § 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II), a person can be found inadmissible, and denied a green card or visa, if they
