The Board of Immigration Appeals has determined that a respondent’s lack of candor about his criminal history is a significant adverse factor in the discretionary cancellation analysis. The respondent, a lawful permanent resident from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, appealed the denial of cancellation of removal after returning to the United States and being charged as inadmissible based on a controlled substance conviction.
The Board affirmed the adverse credibility finding and dismissed the appeal. Although the respondent had strong positive equities, including decades of residence, U.S. citizen children, and employment history, the Board found that his undisclosed arrests, criminal history, and lack of candor outweighed the favorable factors.
The full text of Matter of Richards can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1442711/dl?inline