Adan De Leon-Calderon v. Eric Holder, Jr.

**What Happened** Adan De Leon-Calderon worked for the federal government and applied for a petition for review against Eric Holder, Jr. (who was the U.S. Attorney General at the time). The case involved De Leon-Calderon's eligibility for NACARA relief - a special immigration program that helps certain Central American immigrants obtain legal status in the United States. When the Board of Immigration Appeals decided he wasn't eligible for this relief, he challenged that decision in federal court. **What the Court Decided** The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed De Leon-Calderon's case entirely. The court ruled that it didn't have the legal authority (called "jurisdiction") to review the immigration board's decision about his NACARA eligibility. Essentially, the court said this type of immigration decision wasn't something they could overturn or review. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows that federal courts have limited power to review certain immigration decisions, even when they affect workers' employment status. For immigrant workers seeking legal status through special programs, this ruling demonstrates that some immigration board decisions cannot be appealed to federal courts, making the initial application process even more critical.