Gina Ricarda Miranda, Also Known as Ricardo Pabel Miranda v. Immigration and Naturalization Service United States of America

Gina Ricarda Miranda, a Honduran citizen, entered the United States illegally and has resided in this country for the past eleven years. Miranda is a transsexual who was born male, but has always believed she is female. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) found Miranda to be deporta-ble, denied her request for asylum, and granted her voluntary departure. Miranda appealed the INS decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). While her BIA appeal was pending, Miranda had sexual reassignment surgery to become a woman. The BIA dismissed Miranda’s appeal and ordered her to…