Hoffman Plastic Compounds v. NLRB

In Hoffman Plastic Compounds v. NLRB, 535 U.S. 137 (2002), a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court overturned an award by the National Labor Relations Board (Board) of backpay to an undocumented alien who has never been legally authorized to work in the United States. The Court ruled that such relief is foreclosed by federal immigration policy, as expressed by Congress in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA).

Chief Justice William Rehnquist wrote the opinion for the Court, with the four liberal Justices dissenting.