October Term 2023 · Docket 22-666
Can courts review agency decisions on exceptional hardship?
the sides that brought the case seek judicial review of hardship determinations. The government claims statutory bars prevent such review.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Santos argued non-citizens can seek relief for family hardship.
Ms. Sinzdak argued statutory text bars review of discretionary relief.
Chief Justice Roberts noted the statutory standard requires comparative analysis.
Justice Alito distinguished this case from prior due diligence rulings.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether federal courts can review agency decisions on exceptional hardship. the sides that brought the case argue courts must apply legal standards. The government claims statutory bars block this review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want courts to review hardship determinations.
The government wants courts to deny review of these determinations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue hardship standards are legal questions requiring review.
The government argues statutory text bars review of discretionary relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the issue is a legal question.
Justice Kavanaugh asked why the standard is not deferential.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-15
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of judicial oversight over immigration relief. It determines whether courts can correct legal errors in hardship cases. The outcome shapes the balance between agency discretion and legal accountability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
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 11, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-17 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 35-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 35-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.