October Term 2017 · Docket 17-965
Does the President have authority to restrict entry beyond Congress's statutory framework?
Hawaii argues the entry ban conflicts with congressional law and the Constitution. The government claims it serves national security needs.
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
Hawaii's lawyer argued the order violates the Constitution.
The government's lawyer cited a multi-agency security review.
Justices questioned the scope of presidential authority.
Hawaii's lawyer claimed the order discriminates by nationality.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 13-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests presidential power over immigration. Hawaii seeks to block the entry restrictions. The government defends the proclamation as lawful.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 13-15
What each side wants
Hawaii wants the Court to strike down the entry restrictions.
The government wants the Court to uphold the entry restrictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
What each side says
Hawaii argues the order conflicts with Congress's immigration laws.
The government argues the order follows a multi-agency security review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked where the President gets authority beyond Congress's decisions.
Justice Ginsburg noted Congress is responsible for making immigration laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-33
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of presidential power over immigration. It determines whether the executive can override congressional statutes. The outcome shapes future national security policies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 13-15
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 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 43-45
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.