Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/20-979_h3ci.pdf
Page Number: 33.0

12 

PATEL v. GARLAND 

GORSUCH, J., dissenting 

the granting of relief ” under § 1255 for adjustment of sta-
tus.  Subparagraph (B)(i) also bars review of “judgment[s] 
regarding  the  granting  of  relief  under  section[s]  1182(h),
1182(i), 1229b, [and] 1229c.”  § 1252(a)(2)(B)(i).  These pro-
visions bear many differences.  But they all have one thing 
in  common:  a  two-step  structure  in  which  the  Attorney
General  makes  a  statutory  determination,  followed  by  a 
step-two  discretionary  decision  whether  to  grant  relief.2 
That hardly seems a coincidence.  More likely, it is further
indication that subparagraph (B)(i) focuses on step-two dis-
cretionary determinations, not threshold judgments about 
eligibility.  Here, too, subparagraph (B)(i) reflects our law’s
longstanding  distinction  between  “eligibility  [determina-
tions under] specific statutory standards” and subsequent 
decisions about whether to grant “ultimate relief ” through 
an “exercise of discretion.”  Jay v. Boyd, 351 U. S. 345, 353– 
354 (1956).

Still other clues confirm that subparagraph (B)(i) targets 
second-step  discretionary  decisions.    Take  the  title  Con-
gress chose in § 1252(a)(2)(B).  It labeled this provision “De-
nials of discretionary relief.”  In doing so, Congress left little
doubt that subparagraph (B) and its accompanying clauses
(i) and (ii) are designed to bar review of only those decisions 
invested to the Attorney General’s discretion, not anteced-
ent statutory eligibility determinations.

Consider  as  well  the  statute’s  history.    When  Congress
borrows  words  from  an  established  legal  context,  it  “pre-
sumably  knows  and  adopts  the  cluster  of  ideas  that  were
attached”  to  them.  Morissette  v.  United  States,  342  U. S. 

—————— 

2 Section 1229b says the Attorney General “may, in his discretion” can-
cel removal, but only where an alien satisfies certain statutory criteria. 
§§ 1229b(a), (b).  Section 1229c says the Attorney General “may permit”
voluntary  departure,  but  only  if  an  alien  meets  certain  legal  require-
ments.  §§ 1229c(a), (b).  Likewise, §§ 1182(h) and 1182(i) say the Attor-
ney General “may, in his discretion,” waive certain forms of inadmissi-
bility, but only for those aliens who satisfy the specified criteria.