AG Bondi Makes It Precedent: BIA Says ‘Isolated Torture’ Won’t Win CAT — Higher Bar Could Speed Removals

The BIA’s precedential Matter of J-A- tightens standards for CAT protection, rejecting reliance on isolated or anecdotal incidents and foreign ‘real risk’ findings, and reaffirming the higher ‘more likely than not’ burden and specific-intent requirement. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed its publication as precedent, signaling a broader DOJ/EOIR push to narrow humanitarian relief and potentially accelerate removals, especially in terrorism-flagged cases. No clear duplicates in the last week; related coverage documents concurrent AG-led asylum tightening. National policy significance with accelerating pattern indicators.