October Term 2010 · Docket 09-115
Does federal law block states from revoking business licenses for hiring unauthorized workers?
Businesses argue federal law preempts state license revocations. States claim they retain police power to regulate employers.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Phillips argued Congress made employer sanctions central to immigration policy.
He stated federal law broadly preempted state and local sanctions.
He noted the only exception was a parenthetical for licensing laws.
Ms. O'Grady argued states traditionally regulate employer conduct through police powers.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal immigration law blocks states from using license revocation to punish employers who hire unauthorized workers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-45
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down state license revocation laws.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold state license revocation laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state sanctions on unauthorized hiring.
the opposing sides argue states retain police power to regulate employer conduct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the state law definition mirrors the Administrative Procedure Act.
Justice Scalia asked why the federal option leaves states no other choice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between federal immigration control and state regulatory authority. It determines whether states can use licensing tools to enforce labor standards. This shapes how employers operate across state lines. It impacts the balance of power in national immigration enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-17
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.