Sam Andrews' Sons v. Mitchell

326 F. Supp. 35, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13782
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedApril 12, 1971
DocketCiv. No. 71-75-S
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 326 F. Supp. 35 (Sam Andrews' Sons v. Mitchell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sam Andrews' Sons v. Mitchell, 326 F. Supp. 35, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13782 (S.D. Cal. 1971).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

SCHWARTZ, Chief Judge.

FACTS

Plaintiffs, SAM ANDREWS’ SONS, are a general partnership engaged in lettuce and melon growing. In harvesting their produce, plaintiffs historically have relied heavily upon a labor force composed of Mexican citizens who com[36]*36mute daily into the United States from Mexico. The aliens enter this country by use of the so-called “green cards”, i. e. Forms 1-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card. Under 8 C.F.R. § 211.1 such “commuter aliens” are permitted to use the green cards in lieu of immigrant visas. However, 8 C.F.R. § 211.1(b) (1) prohibits use of green cards when the user comes into the country with the intention of accepting employment at a place where the Secretary of Labor has determined that a labor dispute exists or of continuing employment which commenced at such a place subsequent to the date of the Secretary of Labor’s determination. On June 26, 1970, the Secretary of Labor certified that a labor dispute was in progress at the plaintiffs’ place of business. Subsequent thereto, officers of the Border Patrol visited the fields of the plaintiffs and interviewed employees with the apparent purpose of determining which, if any, of the employees were using their green cards contrary to the restrictions imposed by 8 C.F.R. § 211.1. Those found to be in violation of that provision were warned that their green cards would be taken if they were again detected working in plaintiffs’ fields. The affidavits submitted by the plaintiffs indicate that prior to this interrogation, 95% of their employees commuted from Mexico, that as a result thereof, they have not been able to employ non-resident aliens, that many resident alien employees have been frightened, away by the activities of the Border Patrol, and that they have been compelled to hire less experienced personnel to replace those lost, with resulting higher costs.

Plaintiffs, by their complaint, seek a declaratory judgment that 8 C.F.R. § 211.1(b) (1) insofar as it is sought to be enforced by defendants against so-called commuter aliens is an unconstitutional abuse of discretion and plaintiffs further request a preliminary and a permanent injunction against such enforcement of the regulation.

Shortly prior to the hearing on plaintiffs’ application for preliminary injunction, defendants moved for dismissal under Rule 12(b) (1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and under Rule 12(b) (6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted, and for summary judgment on the ground that there was no genuine issue as to any material fact. At the time of hearing, it was stipulated that defendants motions could be heard and considered by the court together with plaintiffs’ motion.

STANDING

The defendants urge that plaintiffs lack standing to prosecute the instant action, relying particularly on Cobb v. Murrell, 386 F.2d 947 (5th Cir., 1967). However, that case and others employing like reasoning appear to rest upon the notion that a demonstrable legal interest is a necessary element of standing. This viewpoint was specifically rejected in Association of Data Processing Service Organizations, Inc. v. Camp, 397 U.S. 150, 90 S.Ct. 827, 25 L.Ed.2d 184 (1970), where it was held that a business providing data processing services had standing to challenge a ruling by the Comptroller of the Currency which permitted national banks to make data processing services available to other banks and bank customers.

The Court noted that:

The first question is whether the plaintiff alleges that the challenged action has caused him injury in fact, economic or otherwise. Id. at 152, 90 S.Ct. at 829.

If so, the case or controversy requirement is met. The Court continued:

The “légal interest” test goes to the merits. The question of standing is different. It concerns, apart from the “case” or “controversy” test, the question whether the interest sought to be protected by the complaint is arguably within the zone of interests to be protected or regulated by the statute or constitutional guarantee in question. Id. at 153, 90 S.Ct. at 830.

Significantly, the Court noted that the “trend is toward enlargement of the [37]*37class of people who may protest administrative action.” Id. at 154, 90 S.Ct. at 830.

The regulation here questioned directly affects plaintiffs’ access to labor and the very economy of their operation. Under the broad doctrine of Data Processing, supra, the interest sought to be protected by the complaint appears to be within the zone of the interests subjected to regulation. Plaintiffs have standing to prosecute their action.

STATUTES AND REGULATIONS INVOLVED

Examination of pertinent statutes and regulations is appropriate at this point.

8 C.F.R. § 211.1 Visas provides, with certain exceptions not material here, that:

(a) General. A valid unexpired immigrant visa shall be presented jiy each arriving immigrant alien applying for admission to the United States for lawful permanent residence.

It further provides that:

(b) Aliens returning to an unrelinquished lawful permanent residence— (1) Form 1 — 151, Alien Registration Receipt Card. In lieu of an immigrant visa, an immigrant alien returning to an unrelinquished lawful permanent residence in the United States after a temporary absence abroad not exceeding 1 year may present Form 1-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card, duly issued to him, provided that during such absence he did not travel to, in, or through any of the following places:

After listing certain travel restrictions, § 211.1(b) (1) concludes:

When the Secretary of Labor determines and announces that a labor dispute involving a work stoppage or lay-off of employees is in progress at a named place of employment, Form 1-151 shall be invalid when presented in lieu of an immigrant visa or reentry permit by an alien who has departed for and seeks reentry from any foreign place and who, prior to his departure or during his temporary absence abroad has in any manner entered into an arrangement to return to the United States for the primary purpose, or seeks reentry with the intention, of accepting employment at the place where the Secretary of Labor has determined that a labor dispute exists, or of continuing employment which commenced at such place subsequent to the date of the Secretary of Labor’s determination.

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Related

Sam Andrews' Sons, Etc. v. John N. Mitchell
457 F.2d 745 (Ninth Circuit, 1972)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
326 F. Supp. 35, 1971 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13782, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sam-andrews-sons-v-mitchell-casd-1971.