American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
760 F. Supp. 796 (1991)
- Written by Mary Katherine Cunningham, JD
Facts
In 1985, Salvadoran and Guatemalan asylum seekers joined with religious organizations including the American Baptist Churches (plaintiff) to file a class-action lawsuit against Richard Thornburgh, Gene McNary, and James A. Baker (defendants). The class-action complaint alleged the United States government engaged in a pattern of discrimination in the adjudication of asylum applications filed by Guatemalan and Salvadoran citizens. American Baptist Churches argued the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) could not consider nationality when determining eligibility for relief under Section 101(a)(42)(A) or Section 243(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Before the court considered the matter, American Baptist Churches and Thornburgh, McNary, and Baker chose to settle the matter.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Peckham, J.)
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