Opinion ID: 592141
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Injunctive Relief Applicable to All Categories

Text: 80 Plaintiffs asked the district court to establish new application deadlines 37 for all three categories of nonimmigrants who did not file for legalization because they believed or were told that they were ineligible based on INS regulations that the district court later found invalid. The district court held that the Supreme Court's decision in INS v. Pangilinan, 486 U.S. 875, 108 S.Ct. 2210, 100 L.Ed.2d 882 (1988), precluded such relief. 81 On appeal, plaintiffs maintain that Pangilinan is distinguishable and that the district court has equitable power to extend application deadlines for nonimmigrants who were discouraged from applying for legalization by INS regulations. 82 We considered the question of the district court's authority to extend INS application deadlines for legalization under IRCA in our recent decision in Catholic Social Services, Inc. v. Thornburgh, 956 F.2d at 921-23. In that case, we held that the district court had authority to extend INS deadlines. We noted that extending the deadline was consistent with Congress's intent and distinguished the Supreme Court's decision in Pangilinan. 38 Catholic Social Services, 956 F.2d at 921-23. In particular, we emphasized that the statutory scheme considered in Pangilinan differed significantly from IRCA. See Catholic Social Services, 956 F.2d at 921-22. 39 Our recent decision in Zambrano v. INS, 972 F.2d at 1124-25, followed Catholic Social Services, and affirmed the district court's authority to extend application deadlines for legalization under certain provisions of IRCA. 83 The district court's authority to extend application deadlines in the present case is controlled by our decisions in Catholic Social Services and Zambrano. We therefore remand to the district court to reconsider plaintiffs' request for an extension of application deadlines in light of those decisions. 40 84
Deported Nonimmigrants 85 Plaintiffs argue on appeal that the district court erred when it denied their request for an injunction ordering the INS to readmit nonimmigrants whose applications were wrongfully denied, and who were consequently deported, because of INS regulations now held to be invalid. We recognize that some courts have issued similar relief. See, e.g., Wiedersperg v. INS, 896 F.2d 1179, 1182 (9th Cir.1990) (alien deported following criminal conviction may re-enter the country after the conviction was vacated); Mendez v. INS, 563 F.2d 956, 959 (9th Cir.1977) (alien deported in proceeding which violated due process may re-enter country and reopen deportation proceeding). In the present case, however, plaintiffs have not sufficiently identified applicants in any of the three categories who are living outside the United States because they were wrongfully expelled. See Catholic Social Services, 956 F.2d at 923 (plaintiffs' parole request denied when they failed to identify any class member who qualified for exception to general rule that courts may not review deportation orders of those who have departed United States). Under these circumstances, we cannot conclude that the district court erred in denying the injunction requested by plaintiffs.