But on Tuesday, a federal appeals court ruled that his suffering—and the fear of going back—wasn’t enough to grant him asylum. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected his request to stay, upholding an earlier decision by immigration officials. Senator Lee Warns Of A ‘Killer’ Deal Designed To Crush RivalsBonilla-Espinoza tried to argue that the police targeted him because of his political views. He pointed out that his mother was part of a group that fought for human rights and criticized the government. This ruling comes as El Salvador continues its aggressive “state of exception,” a government crackdown designed to wipe out gangs.