Alfred L. Snapp & Son, Inc. v. Puerto Rico Ex Rel. Barez

In this case, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico seeks to bring suit in its capacity as parens patriae against petitioners for their alleged violations of federal law. Puerto Rico contends that those violations discriminated against Puerto Ricans and injured the Puerto Rican economy. The question presented here is whether Puerto Rico has standing to maintain this suit.

I

A

The factual background of this case involves the interaction of two federal statutes, the Wagner-Peyser Act, 48 Stat. 113, 29 U. S. C. §49 et seq., and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, 66 Stat. 163, as amended, 8 U.…