October Term 2017 · Docket 15-1204
Does the Constitution require bail hearings for detained immigrants?
the sides that brought the case seek individualized hearings. The government argues detention is mandatory.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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. Stewart argued Congress has broad authority over immigration rules.
Mr. Arulanantham argued detention and removal are distinct legal concepts.
Justice Sotomayor asked how immigration detention differs from criminal detention.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 54-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 54-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-40
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of immigration detention. the sides that brought the case argue the Fifth Amendment requires bail hearings. The government claims Congress authorized indefinite detention without review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 42-44
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want individualized bail hearings for detained immigrants.
The government wants to detain immigrants without judicial review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the Fifth Amendment limits indefinite detention.
The government argues Congress authorized mandatory detention statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the statute mandates detention without hearings.
Justice Ginsburg asked about monitoring devices as an alternative to release.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 54-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 54-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-40
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of executive power over non-citizens. It determines whether individuals face indefinite detention without judicial oversight. The outcome shapes the balance between national security and personal liberty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
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 38-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-10 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 28-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-10 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 14-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 54-18 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 54-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 12-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-54 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 8-40
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 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 8-1 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 8-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 48-34 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 48-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 46-40 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 46-40
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.