October Term 2016 · Docket 15-118
Can a Mexican national sue a U.S. agent for a cross-border shooting?
The dispute centers on whether the Fourth Amendment protects a Mexican national shot by a U.S. agent from inside the United States.
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
Mr. Kneedler asked the Court to create a new damages remedy.
Mr. Hilliard described the victim as unarmed and unthreatening.
Mr. Ortega argued the Fourth Amendment does not apply in Mexico.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-6
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Sergio Hernandez, a 15-year-old Mexican national, was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The agent stood inside the United States while Hernandez stood in Mexico. The lower court dismissed the family's claim. The Supreme Court must decide if the Constitution applies to this cross-border incident.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
The family wants a legal right to sue for damages.
The agent wants the court to deny the family a legal claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
What each side says
The family argues the Fourth Amendment protects them from excessive force.
The agent argues the Fourth Amendment does not apply to Mexican soil.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the rule applies to different ages.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if state guards would face different rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-6
Why it matters
This case defines the geographic reach of constitutional protections. It determines if U.S. agents can use force against foreign nationals without legal consequence. The outcome shapes accountability for cross-border law enforcement actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
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 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 48-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 48-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-6
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 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 16-30
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.