October Term 2019 · Docket 18-587
Can the government end DACA by claiming it was illegal?
The government claims DACA was unlawful. Opponents argue this reason makes the decision reviewable.
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
General Francisco argued the Fifth Circuit found related policies unlawful.
Mr. Olson argued the termination caused substantial disruptions to lives.
Mr. Mongan argued the government chose to end the policy based on illegality.
Justice Breyer questioned the basis for claiming the decision is unreviewable.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The government ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. It cited the program's illegality as the reason. Opponents argue this specific justification allows courts to review the decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-9
What each side wants
The government wants the court to uphold the program termination.
Opponents want the court to reverse the termination order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
What each side says
The government argues the termination decision is unreviewable.
Opponents argue the illegality claim makes the decision reviewable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the memo stated DACA was illegal.
Justice Kagan asked if the original policy is reviewable but the rescission is not.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
Why it matters
This case determines if agencies can end policies by claiming they are illegal. It affects the legal rights of hundreds of thousands of people. It defines the scope of judicial review over executive actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
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 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 35-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-55 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
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 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 23-47
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.