I am a new comer. I filed a WOM and got a MTD last week. The following is from the AUSA's MTD:
"Although Plaintiff claims that Defendants have caused him damage, he identifies no interest of which he has been deprived that is protected by the Constitution or a federal statute. Plaintiff’s failure to identify any protected interest is not surprising because there is none. An alien seeking lawful permanent resident status cannot show “that [his] interest is one protected by the Constitution or created by statute.”
Almario v. Att’y Gen’l, 872 F.2d 147, 151 (6th Cir. 1989); see also Menezes v. INS, 601 F.2d 1028, 1034 (9th Cir. 1979) (no denial of equal protection when U.S. citizen’s alien spouse was denied adjustment of status); Azizi v. Thornburgh, 908 F.2d 1130, 1134 (2d Cir. 1990)(alien “ha[s no] inherent property interest in an immigrant visa”); Olegario v. United States, 629 F.2d 204, 223-24 (2d Cir. 1980) (naturalization statute did not confer “vested right to citizenship”; “[a]t most, the statute provided . . . an opportunity to become a citizen”), cert. denied, 450 U.S. 980 (1981).
Because Plaintiff identifies no protected interest of which he has been deprived, 28 U.S.C. 1331 does not confer subject matter jurisdiction on the Court. "
Does anyone know how to respond to this type of arguments? Any hint is greatly appreciated!