Supreme Court Extends Immigration Deadline Flexibility

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision that immigrants granted voluntary departure must have their deadlines extended to the next business day if the original deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday. The case centered on Hugo Monsalvo Velázquez, a longtime Colorado resident from Mexico, whose voluntary departure deadline landed on a Saturday. The majority, led by Justice Neil Gorsuch and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and the court's liberal justices, argued that this extension aligns with standard legal practices and federal court procedures. The decision marks a significant shift from previously rigid immigration deadlines, providing clarity and protecting immigrants from losing legal options due to technicalities. However, four conservative justices dissented, asserting that the ruling unjustifiably extends congressionally established deadlines and questioned the Court's jurisdiction. The ruling is expected to have broad implications for how immigration courts handle voluntary departure deadlines moving forward.