Ten More Years of Plenary Power: Immigration, Congress, and the Courts

Authors

Stephen H. Legomsky

Abstract

The Supreme Court has long applied a doctrine of special judicial deference to Congress in the area of immigration regulation. The precise degree of that special deference to plenary congressional power has varied by context and era, and continues to develop today. During the past decade, the author has published two companion pieces which study the history, theory, soundness, politics, and likely future course of the plenary power doctrine. In this essay, the author summarizes the conclusions reached in those two prior publications, synthesizes the judicial trends that have developed since that time, and revises his predictions in light of the current patterns.

Recommended Citation

Stephen H. Legomsky, Ten More Years of Plenary Power: Immigration, Congress, and the Courts, 22 Hastings Const. L.Q. 925 (1995).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_constitutional_law_quaterly/vol22/iss4/2