October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1402
Does a spouse have a right to challenge a visa denial?
Fauzia Din argues the government wrongly denied her husband a visa. The State Department claims courts cannot review such decisions.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Justice Kennedy questioned the scope of the wife's verification rights.
Justice Sotomayor explored whether marriage creates specific legal protections.
The government advocate emphasized the inherent sovereign power to exclude aliens.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of consular nonreviewability. Din claims her husband faced arbitrary denial. The government asserts sovereign power over entry.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Din wants a court review of the visa denial.
The government wants to block all judicial review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
What each side says
Din argues the denial violated her marital rights.
The government argues exclusion power is inherent in sovereignty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the wife has a minimum right to verify identification.
Justice Sotomayor asked if marriage grants rights against arbitrary interference.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of judicial oversight over immigration decisions. It determines whether spouses can challenge arbitrary visa denials. The outcome shapes the balance between national security and individual rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 31-3 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 31-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.