October Term 2013 · Docket 12-930
Does a new family petition convert an aged-out child's status?
The dispute centers on whether a new family petition automatically converts an aged-out child's immigration status.
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
Ms. Goldenberg argued the Board's interpretation was reasonable.
Mr. Fleming argued the case should be resolved at step one.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves children who age out of their immigration category. The government argues a new petition does not convert status. The children argue it does.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-11
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to reject the automatic conversion argument.
The children want the Court to accept the automatic conversion argument.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
What each side says
The government argues the Board reasonably interpreted the statute.
The children argue the statute mandates automatic conversion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the regulation was not copied.
Justice Breyer asked about the total number of affected people.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
Why it matters
This case determines the immigration status of thousands of children. It defines the scope of family-sponsored visa categories. It impacts the waiting time for these applicants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
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 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-3
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 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-45
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.