Legal Definitions - Catholic Social Services, Inc. v. Reno

Catholic Social Services, Inc. v. Reno (CSS) is a legal case that dealt with an immigration regulation requiring illegal immigrants to obtain approval from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) before leaving the United States, even for a brief, casual, and innocent absence.

In 1986, a group of illegal immigrants filed a class action lawsuit challenging the INS regulation. The case went through several rounds of litigation, including a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Reno v. Catholic Social Services. Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in Catholic Social Services v. I.N.S. However, Congress later passed the LIFE Act, which amended the statute in favor of the plaintiffs.

This case illustrates the complex and often lengthy process of challenging government regulations through the legal system. It also highlights the role of Congress in shaping immigration policy through legislation.