Claudius ATKINSON, Appellant. v. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF the UNITED STATES

ROTH, Circuit Judge.

If the Supreme Court has determined that the repeal of a law has an impermissible retroactive effect on a particular group, does that determination render the law impermissibly retroactive in its application to other groups affected by the repeal? That is the question before us in this appeal.

I. Factual Background and Procedural History

Claudius Atkinson is a citizen of Jamaica who entered the United States as a non- immigrant visitor in January 1983. He adjusted his status to that of lawful permanent resident two years later on January 25,1985. On December 16, 1991,…