Case: Perales v. Thornburgh

1:88-cv-02265 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: April 1, 1988

Closed Date: 1991

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On April 1, 1988, a group of aliens brought a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenging the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) administration of an amnesty program for illegal aliens authorized by Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, alleging that the "public charge" exclusion regulations were facially invalid and violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fifth Amendment and the Administrati…

On April 1, 1988, a group of aliens brought a class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenging the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) administration of an amnesty program for illegal aliens authorized by Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, alleging that the "public charge" exclusion regulations were facially invalid and violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fifth Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The IRCA established a one-time only amnesty program through which aliens could apply for lawful temporary resident status and then, after a one-year waiting period, apply for permanent residency. 8 U.S.C. §1255a. To qualify for this program, the alien must have (1) applied for such adjustment within the 12-month period between May 5, 1987, and May 4, 1988; (2) lived continuously and unlawfully in the U.S. since January 1, 1982 and that their unlawful status was "known to the government"; (3) been continuously physically present in the United States except for ''brief, casual, and innocent absences,'' since November 6, 1986 and (4) was "admissible to the United States as an immigrant." 8 U.S.C. § 1255a (a)(1)-(4) (1988). With regard to the fourth criterion, the alien had to prove that he was not "likely at any time to become a public charge." See 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(4) (Supp. II 1990). Plaintiffs challenged the INS' regulations implementing how the "public charge" exclusion was determined. 8 C.F.R. § 245a. Those regulations included rules relating to "proof of financial responsibility," 8 C.F.R. § 245a.2(d)(4) and "public cash assistance," 8 C.F.R. § 245a.1(i)(1988).

This case was one of several major lawsuits filed throughout the country, challenging different policies and practices used by the INS to implement the IRCA amnesty program, 8 U.S.C. § 1255a. See Zambrano v. INS, S-88-455 EJG (E.D.Cal.) [IM-CA-8] (dealt with public charge exclusion); Ayuda v. Meese, 88-CV-00625 (D.D.C) [See IM-DC-3 of this collection]; Catholic Social Services v. Reno, 2:86-cv-01343-LKK-JFM (E.D.Cal.) [IM-CA-11]; and LULAC v. INS, 2:87-cv-04757-WDK-CW (C.D.Cal.) [IM-CA-19].

Plaintiffs sought a TRO and preliminary injunction, which were both denied by the District Court (Judge Kenneth Conboy). The Second Circuit affirmed. Perales v. Meese, 847 F.2d 55 (2d Cir.1988).

On March 29, 1989, the District Court denied the parties' cross-motions for partial summary judgment. The parties then entered into a Stipulation and Order, filed July 21, 1989, in which the INS agreed to publish amended regulations relating to the definition of public cash assistance and further agreed to reexamine all timely filed applications that had been denied on public charge grounds.

Following a six-day bench trial, the District Court issued an opinion in which it found in favor of the government on all of plaintiffs' claims, holding that the INS public charge regulations were neither facially invalid nor unlawful as applied. The Court also rejected the plaintiffs' Fifth Amendment Due Process claim (that the INS disseminated misinformation concerning the public charge regulations). Perales v. Thornburgh, 762 F.Supp. 1036, 1061 (S.D.N.Y.1991). The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (Circuit Judge Walker) reversed. Perales v. Thornburgh, 967 F.2d 798 (2nd Cir. 1992). The Supreme Court granted certiorari, vacated the Second Circuit judgment, and remanded the case for further consideration in light of in light of Reno v. Catholic Social Services, Inc., 509 U.S. 43, 113 S.Ct. 2485, 125 L.Ed.2d 38 (1993). Reno v. Perales, 509 U.S. 917, 113 S.Ct. 3027, 125 L.Ed.2d 716 (1993).

On remand, the Second Circuit affirmed the portion of the District Court's judgment that held that the INS satisfied its duty to disseminate accurate information regarding the amnesty program and remanded for further proceedings as to plaintiffs' facial challenge to the public charge regulations. Perales v. Thornburgh, 4 F.3d 99 (2nd Cir. 1992), cert. denied 516 U.S. 1043, 116 S.Ct. 699, 133 L.Ed.2d 657 (1996).

As the PACER docket does not contain any entries and as there were no other published opinions, we do not know what transpired after the case was remanded to the District Court in 1996.

Summary Authors

Dan Dalton (1/4/2008)

People


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Abrams, Robert W. (New York)

Calvo, Janet M. (New York)

Attorney for Defendant

Alhadeff, Marla (New York)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Andrade, Vibiana (California)

Bosniak, Linda (New York)

Judge(s)

Cardamone, Richard J. (New York)

Conboy, Kenneth (New York)

Lumbard, Joseph Edward (New York)

McLaughlin, Joseph Michael (New York)

Meskill, Thomas Joseph (Connecticut)

Walker, John Mercer Jr. (New York)

Winter, Steven L. (New York)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:88-cv-02265

Docket [PACER]

April 22, 1991

April 22, 1991

Docket

1:88-cv-02265

Memorandum and Order [RE: Motion for Preliminary Injunction]

Perales v. Meese III

March 26, 1988

March 26, 1988

Order/Opinion

88-06115

[Appellate Opinion]

Perales v. Meese III

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

May 19, 1988

May 19, 1988

Order/Opinion

1:88-cv-02265

Memorandum and Order

Perales v. Meese

March 29, 1989

March 29, 1989

Order/Opinion

1:88-cv-02265

Opinion and Order

April 18, 1991

April 18, 1991

Order/Opinion

91-06133

91-06135

91-06167

[Appellate Opinion]

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

June 24, 1992

June 24, 1992

Order/Opinion

92-00451

Memorandum Decision [Re: Writ of Certiorari]

Reno v. Perales

Supreme Court of the United States

June 28, 1993

June 28, 1993

Order/Opinion

91-06133

91-06135

91-06167

[Appellate Decision]

U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Aug. 24, 1993

Aug. 24, 1993

Order/Opinion

95-00457

Petition for a Writ of Certiorari

Perales v. Reno

Supreme Court of the United States

Sept. 19, 1995

Sept. 19, 1995

Pleading / Motion / Brief

95-00457

Brief for the Respondents in Opposition

Perales v. Reno

Supreme Court of the United States

Nov. 15, 1995

Nov. 15, 1995

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

Last updated Jan. 27, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.

Case Details

State / Territory: New York

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 1, 1988

Closing Date: 1991

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Aliens whose applications for adjustment under the amnesty program of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, were denied because of the “public charge” exclusion.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

MALDEF

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Unknown

Defendants

Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA)

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief denied

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Admission - criteria

Admission - procedure

Constitutional rights

Legalization/Amnesty

Status/Classification

Temporary protected status

Undocumented immigrants - rights and duties