Federico Ochoa-Moncada v. U.S. Attorney General

**Immigration Court Deadline Case: Ochoa-Moncada v. U.S. Attorney General** **What happened:** Federico Ochoa-Moncada and other workers faced deportation proceedings through immigration court. After their cases were decided against them, they tried to reopen their removal cases by filing a motion, but they missed the required 90-day deadline for doing so. They asked the immigration appeals board to excuse the late filing, but were denied. They then appealed to a federal appeals court, asking the judges to review and overturn that denial. **What the court decided:** The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the government. The court ruled that the 90-day deadline for reopening immigration removal cases is mandatory and absolute. The judges found that this deadline cannot be extended or excused, even in cases where workers might have had good reasons for filing late. **Why this matters for workers:** This ruling emphasizes how strictly immigration deadlines are enforced. Workers facing deportation must act quickly and cannot rely on courts to excuse late filings, even in difficult circumstances. Anyone in removal proceedings should seek legal help immediately to ensure all deadlines are met, as missing them can permanently close off options for staying in the country.