Zambrano v. Immigration and Naturalization Service (2002)

Zambrano v. I.N.S., 302 F.3d 909 (2002), was a class action case lasting from 1988 to 2002, where the plaintiffs, who were undocumented immigrants, challenged Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) regulations, arguing that these regulations unduly restricted the eligibility of undocumented immigrants who might become eligible for government aid programs under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. In 1993, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which remanded it. Ultimately, the plaintiffs claims were dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and other impediments after complex litigation, moving multiple times between the district court, appellate court, and the Supreme Court. This case, along with others like Catholic Social Services v. INS, 232 F.3d 1139 (2000), led to the passing of Section 1104 of the LIFE Act, which allowed some immigrants involved in these class actions to qualify for permanent resident status if they entered the United States prior to 1982 and met other requirements. 

To see the case history of Zambrano, see: Marta Zambrano, Margarita Rodriguez, Graciela Lopez, Andrea Ruiz, Martha Ozuna, and Jorge Perdoma v. Immigration and Naturalization Service,  282 F.3d 1145 (2002).

[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]

Wex

• CIVICS
• immigration law
• wex definitions
• courts and procedure
• government
• group rights
• legal education and practice
• public benefits