The Fifth Circuit has determined that "persons believed to be wealthy because they are returning to their home country from the United States" do not constitute a cognizable particular social group for asylum or withholding of removal purposes.  The court further noted that it does not recognize economic extortion as a form of persecution under immigration law.

The full text of Gonzalez-Soto v. Lynch can be found here:

http://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/14/14-60722-CV0.pdf

Comment