Meanings
present singular third person front-desks · participle present front-desking · participle past front-desked · past front-desked
- immigration lawTo be denied by an INS agent without filing because the officer believes the application invalid at face value.
The Supreme Court pointed out a possible exception: "front-desking" may also produce the concrete effects necessary for a claim to be ripe.
1998, Bernard D. Reams, American international law cases. Ser. 3, 1994, 6, page 32083 more examples
Under the Supreme Court's holding, the LULAC stay order survives only for the small group of cases in which aliens were front-desked by the INS in their application for legalization.
1998, P. J. Patel, Patel's Immigration Law DigestMoreover, the Government has represented to Federal courts its willingness to accept applications of any alien who alleges he or she was "front-desked."
2001, Labor Law Reporter Employment PracticesUnder the court's order, front-desked class members may have had the right to file and have the Immigration Service process their amnesty applications, and to be issued or reissued work authorization.
2003, Immigration Legislation Handbook, page 8-211
Cite this entry
front-desk. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk
“front-desk.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “front-desk,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/front-desk.
Source: front-desk on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.