Chavez v. Freshpict Foods, Inc.

456 F.2d 890
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
DecidedMarch 13, 1972
DocketNos. 71-1177, 71-1286, 71-1300
StatusPublished
Cited by27 cases

This text of 456 F.2d 890 (Chavez v. Freshpict Foods, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chavez v. Freshpict Foods, Inc., 456 F.2d 890 (10th Cir. 1972).

Opinions

BARRETT, Circuit Judge.

Civil actions 71-1177, 71-1286 and 71-1300 were filed separately in the District Court. They involve different parties and different factual allegations. The Court granted the appellees’ motions to dismiss in each case. This court ordered that the cases be consolidated for appeal as each case involves the issue as to whether a private right of action will be implied from a federal regulatory statute.

Civil No. 71-1177

In No. 71-1177, Chavez, et al. v. Freshpict Foods, et al., sixteen domestic [892]*892workers from Colorado and Texas filed suit on behalf of themselves and others similarly situated in 26 Colorado counties. They allege that the appellees, 34 employers of agricultural workers, employ Mexican nationals who have illegally entered the United States. As a result, appellants allege that they have been deprived of work and that their wages have been depressed. Appellants contend that the knowing concealment and employment of illegal aliens violates sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act, i. e., 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101(a) (15) (H) (ii), 1182(a) (14), 1324, 1325, 20 C.F.R. §§ 602.10-602.10b and 29 C.F. R. §§ 60.1-60.6. They further alleged that employment contracts between the appellees and illegal aliens are against public policy and illegal. The domestic workers seek actual and exemplary damages as well as injunctive and declaratory relief.

The trial court dismissed the appellants’ complaint with prejudice, 322 F. Supp. 146. It held that no private action for enforcement of the immigration laws was intended, either expressly or by implication.

The appellants contend that: (1) 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1101(a) (15) (H) (ii),1 1182(a) (14),2 13243 and 13254 give them a private right of action to redress injury which results from violation of [893]*893the statutes; (2) the existence of a statutory scheme of federal regulation does not preclude the implication of private remedies; (3) a private remedy exists under 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1182(a) (14), 1324(a) (3) and 1325 (1964); (4) appellees have incurred liability to appellants by aiding and abetting in violation of 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1182(a) (14) and 1325 (1964); (5) the employment proviso of 8 U.S.C.A. § 1324(a) (1964) does not indicate congressional intent to deny private remedies for the injuries appellants allege; and (6) employment contracts between appellees and illegal aliens in violation of §§ 1182(a) (14) and 1325 (1964) are illegal and their performance may be enjoined.

The appellants contend that the test is to look to the overall purpose of the legislation in determining if the implication of a private remedy would be consistent with its purpose. .They argue that a private remedy is consistent with the purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act, hereinafter called the Act, and that it should therefore be implied by this court. J. I. Case Co. v. Borak, 377 U.S. 426, 84 S.Ct. 1555, 12 L.Ed.2d 423 (1964); Texas & Pacific Railway Company v. Rigsby, 241 U.S. 33, 36 S. Ct. 482, 60 L.Ed. 874 (1916); Gomez v. Florida State Employment Service, 417 F.2d 569 (5th Cir. 1969); Fitzgerald v. Pan American World Airways, 229 F.2d 499 (2nd Cir. 1956).

These decisions are inapposite. In Borak the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 contains express evidence that Congress intended private enforcement. In Fitzgerald the Court found a compelling federal interest dictating its reason for implementing civil remedies. There is no such compelling reason here. In Gomez, supra, the Court implied a civil remedy because there was no other available remedy, either administrative, criminal or civil. The Rigsby case has been changed by more recent cases which have held that tort actions under the Federal Safety Appliances Act do not state a federal question.

The appellants contend that the Department of Justice and other governmental agencies which are required to enforce the federal immigration laws are “grossly inadequate” and that this court should enforce the Act. Accordingly, they seek to by-pass the enforcement procedures set forth in the Act. In order to accommodate them, this court must “fashion” or create a private right of action and a private remedy even though Congress has revealed no intention to do so under the immigration laws. This we decline to do. T.I.M.E., Incorporated v. United States, 359 U.S. 464, 79 S.Ct. 904, 3 L.Ed.2d 952 (1959); Nashville Milk Co. v. Carnation Company, 355 U.S. 373, 78 S.Ct. 352, 2 L.Ed.2d 340 (1958); Oppenheim v. Sterling, 368 F.2d 516 (10th Cir. 1966), cert. denied 386 U. S. 1011, 87 S.Ct. 1357, 18 L.Ed.2d 441 (1967); Consolidated Freightways v. United Truck Lines, 216 F.2d 543 (9th Cir. 1954), cert. denied 349 U.S. 905, 75 S.Ct. 582, 99 L.Ed. 1242 (1955).

The appellants allege that four sections out of the Act entitle them to bring a private cause of action. The segments selected by the appellants demonstrate that private enforcement was not intended. 8 U.S.C.A. § 1101(a) (15) (H) (ii) is part of a definitional section which defines nonimmigrant aliens; it cannot be construed so as to create private rights. 8 U.S.C.A. § 1182(a) (14) contemplates administrative action by the Secretary of Labor. Nothing therein expresses a grant of private cause of action based upon its violation. 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1324 and 1325 are penal sanctions to be applied against employers who harbor illegal aliens. Employment is not deemed to constitute harboring. 8 U.S.C.A. § 1324(a) (4). No intent to confer civil liabilities for their violation is expressed.

At the present time there is a resolution before Congress directed toward the exact practices which are complained of by the appellants in this suit. House Resolution 2328. Since the remedy appellants seek here is properly under Congressional consideration, this court [894]*894will not usurp the lawmaking power of Congress by judicially implying the remedy sought by the Resolution. There is no indication that Congress intended to create a private cause of action under the Act.

Civil Actions 71-1286, 71-1800

In Civil No. 71-1286, Sanchez, et al. v. Great Western Employment Agency, Inc., and Civil No. 71-1300, Olguin, et al. v. Freshpict Foods, Inc. and Imperial Valley Farmers Association, the appellants, migrant farmworkers seek damages for violation of the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act of 1963, 7 U.S.C.A. §§ 2041-2053 (Supp.1970), alleging breach of contract, and violation of Colo.Rev.Stat. §§ 80-11-4, 80-11-7 (1963). In Sanchez,

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456 F.2d 890, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chavez-v-freshpict-foods-inc-ca10-1972.