Green Card Retained Despite Absences from U.S.
Khodagholian v. Ashcroft, 335 F.3d 1003 (9th Cir. 2003)

Mr. Khodagholian was charged with abandoning his lawful permanent resident status because he was absent from the U.S. three times in a five-year period, the last absence lasting about 15 months. Before the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Ms. Hill argued that the absences were of such limited duration and under such circumstances that they could not attribute Mr. Khodagholian with an intent to abandon his resident status here in the U.S. The three absences involved Mr. Khodagholian returning to his native country of Iran where he sold off property and assets, generally wound up his affairs, did not work or pay taxes in Iran, and during the last absence he was involuntarily detained by the Iranian government for eight months. The Ninth Circuit Court agreed, granting the case and allowing Mr. Khodagholian to retain his green card.

For more information: Read the decision here.
NILC's article on the case.