front-desk

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front-desk (third-person singular simple present front-desks, present participle front-desking, simple past and past participle front-desked)

1. (immigration law, of a claim for legalization) To be denied by an INS agent without filing because the officer believes the application invalid at face value.
   • 1998, Bernard D. Reams, American international law cases. Ser. 3, 1994, 6, page 3208:

     The Supreme Court pointed out a possible exception: "front-desking" may also produce the concrete effects necessary for a claim to be ripe.

   • 1998, P. J. Patel, Patel's Immigration Law Digest:

     Under the Supreme Court's holding, the LULAC stay order survives only for the small group of cases in which aliens were front-desked by the INS in their application for legalization.

   • 2001, Labor Law Reporter Employment Practices:

     Moreover, the Government has represented to Federal courts its willingness to accept applications of any alien who alleges he or she was "front-desked."

   • 2003, Immigration Legislation Handbook, page 8-211:

     Under the court's order, front-desked class members may have had the right to file and have the Immigration Service process their amnesty applications, and to be issued or reissued work authorization.