On December 9, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Guerrero-Lasprilla v. Barr, a case that could determine whether courts may review how immigration judges rule on requests to reopen deportation cases.

 

In 1998, Pedro Pablo Guerrero-Lasprilla, a Colombian national living in the United States, was deported after being convicted of aggravated felonies. In 2016, he asked to reopen his removal proceedings. An immigration judge denied Guerrero-Lasprilla’s petition on the grounds that it was untimely. Later, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the petition, saying that it lacked jurisdiction to decide the case.

 

A U.S. Supreme Court decision to restrict when courts can review requests to reopen deportation cases would leave those who have been deported to accept the final decision of the relevant administrative agencies.