Julio Flores v. Otis Bowen, Secretary of Health and Human Services

KOZINSKI, Circuit Judge.

This case presents the question whether the Social Security Administration. (SSA) may cut off appellant’s disability benefits because he is an alien, where appellant holds a valid work authorization and regulations provide that aliens holding such au thorization are permanently residing in the United States under color of law.

Facts

Flores, a native and citizen of Mexico, has lived in the United States since 1969. In December 1976, he applied for permanent resident status. In 1977, a district court in Illinois ordered the Immigration and Naturalization Service to send a…