The US Supreme Court could prevent thousands of people living in America for humanitarian reasons from applying to become permanent residents.
The justices seemed favourable, in arguments via telephone, to the case made by the administration of US President Joe Biden that federal immigration law prohibits people who entered the country illegally and now have Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from seeking “green cards” to remain in the country permanently.
The designation applies to people who come from countries ravaged by war or disasters, protects them from deportation and allows them to work legally.
The case pits the administration against immigrant groups that contend federal law is more forgiving for the 400,000 people who are TPS recipients.
Many have lived in the US for years, have given birth to American citizens and have put down roots in this country, their advocates say.
The Justice Department says it is maintaining a position held consistently for 30 years by administrations from both parties.
Mr Biden supports changing the law to put TPS recipients, among other immigrants, on a path to citizenship.
Legislation that would allow people who are in the country for humanitarian reasons to adjust their immigration status has passed the House, but faces uncertain prospects in the Senate.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the court should be “careful about tinkering with the immigration statutes as written”, especially when Congress could act.
“But just kind of big picture, why should we jump in here when Congress is very focused on immigration?”
The case turns on whether people who entered the country illegally and were given humanitarian protection were ever “admitted” into the US under immigration law.
"They clearly were not admitted at the borders. So, is that a fiction? Is it metaphysical? What is it? I don't know," said Justice Clarence Thomas.
The case before the court relates to a couple from El Salvador who have been in the country since the late 1990s. In 2001, the US gave Salvadoran migrants legal protection to remain in the US after a series of earthquakes in their home country.
People from 10 other countries – Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen – are similarly protected.
