William Rehnquist

“ Respondents are undoubtedly entitled to the benefit of those procedures which Congress has accorded them in the Reform Act. But there is no reason to believe that administrative appeals as provided in the Act-which simply have not been resorted to by these respondents before suing in the District Court-would not have assured them compliance with statutory procedures. The Court never mentions what colorable constitutional claims these aliens, illegally present in the United States, could have had that demand judicial review. ”

“ We expressly rejected the contention-also urged by the respondents here-that "simply because a claim somehow can be construed as 'procedural,' it is cognizable in federal district court by way of federal-question jurisdiction." Id., at 614, 104 S.Ct., at 2021.
It is well settled that when Congress has established a particular review mechanism, courts are not free to fashion alternatives to the specified scheme. ”

“ I believe that Congress intended to preclude judicial review of such claims in this instance, and that in this context it is permissible for it to do so.
In the Reform Act, Congress enacted a one-time amnesty program to process claims of illegal aliens allowing them to obtain status as lawful residents. Congress intended aliens to come forward during the limited, 12-month eligibility period because " [t] his is the first call and the last call, a one-shot deal." ”