Three important cases are pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to observers, at stake are the legitimacy of the current U.S. immigration court system and the longstanding precedent decision, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, and its standard for deference to federal administrative agency decisions. The cases include:
- Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy, which involves two questions: (1) whether the SEC’s choice of enforcement proceedings violates the nondelegation doctrine, and (2) whether the for-cause removal of administrative law judges (ALJs) violates the U.S. Constitution. Both issues are important for immigration lawyers. For example, observers note, a ruling in favor of Mr. Jarkesy could result in a finding that immigration judges do not have the authority to adjudicate the cases they are assigned. Oral argument in Jarkesy was held on November 29, 2023.
- Relentless, Inc. v. Department of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which include more expansive challenges to administrative law. Among other issues, the Supreme Court will consider whether to limit or overrule the Court’s 1984 precedent decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council. Overruling Chevron would have an impact on federal court challenges to agency decisions from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Labor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Oral argument in Relentless and Loper will be held in January.
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