On May 19, 2000, plaintiffs filed suit in the U.S. District Court District of Columbia to compel the INS to issue long-awaited regulations implementing § 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) for certain healthcare workers who were waiting to become lawful permanent residents. Plaintiffs were represented by attorneys for the American Immigration Law Foundation (AILF) and private counsel.

On September 29, 2000, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement. Under the terms of the Agreement, the INS was required to issue regulations governing certification under §343 of IIRIRA of medical technologists, medical technicians, speech/language pathologists and physicians assistants applying for permanent residence by January 19, 2001. The INS agreed to provide plaintiffs' attorneys with a detailed status report by November 30, 2000, setting forth the time table for the administrative review, approval process and publication of the regulations. The INS also agreed to adjudicate the I-485s of the named plaintiffs and their derivative family members within thirty (30) days after they received their §343 certificate and submitted all other documents necessary for the adjudication of the I-485s.

On January 22, 2001, the Court entered a joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of the case.

Dan Dalton - 10/22/2007


compress summary