Board of Immigration Appeals Suspends Attorney Asim Abdur Rahman Ghafoor Following Maryland Action

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals granted a petition for the immediate suspension of attorney Asim Abdur Rahman Ghafoor from practicing before the Board, Immigration Courts, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The decision stems from an earlier action by the Supreme Court of Maryland.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Asim Abdur Rahman Ghafoor.”

The Board’s order follows an October 23, 2025, ruling by the Supreme Court of Maryland, which suspended Mr. Ghafoor from the practice of law in Maryland, effective immediately. Subsequently, on December 9, 2025, the Disciplinary Counsel for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Disciplinary Counsel for DHS jointly filed a petition with the Board of Immigration Appeals, seeking Mr. Ghafoor’s immediate suspension from immigration practice.

While the Disciplinary Counsels had proposed a fixed suspension period of six months and one day, the Board of Immigration Appeals did not adopt this specific duration. Instead, the Board’s order specifies that the immediate suspension will continue indefinitely, pending the final disposition of the disciplinary proceeding, in accordance with 8 C.F.R. § 1003.103(a)(4). This regulation stipulates that such suspensions remain in effect until a final administrative decision is reached.

As part of the order, Mr. Ghafoor is required to promptly notify all clients with cases currently pending before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Courts, or DHS about his suspension. He must also maintain records to demonstrate compliance with this notification requirement.

Furthermore, the contents of this suspension notice are to be made publicly available at Immigration Courts and appropriate offices of DHS. The Board noted that it retains the authority to set aside the immediate suspension order if good cause is shown and it is deemed to be in the interest of justice.

The Disposition states:

“The petition is granted, and the respondent is suspended from the practice of law before the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Immigration Courts, and DIIS, pending final disposition of this proceeding.”

According to Avvo.com, Mr. Ghafoor is a civil rights attorney in Washington, D.C. He attended the University of Texas School of Law, graduating in 1991. 

A copy of the original filing can be found here.