Blanche v. Lau · ¶51

Knowing just what I have already explained about the statutory scheme is enough to answer the question presented in this case. Congress’s use of the phrase “shall not” leaves the Government no discretion to divest an LPR of his already-admitted status and treat him as “seeking an admission” if he does not fit into one of the six exceptions. See §1101(a)(13)(C); Maine Community Health Options v. United States, 590 U. S. 296, 310 (2020) (“Unlike the word ‘may,’ which implies discretion, the word ‘shall’ usually connotes a requirement” (some internal quotation marks omitted)).

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