October Term 2021 · Docket 19-896
Can the government detain asylum seekers indefinitely without a bond hearing?
The dispute centers on whether immigration officials must hold bond hearings for non-citizens detained beyond six months.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
The government attorney argued the statute allows detention beyond the removal period.
The detainee attorney argued a prior ruling requires release after six months if removal is unlikely.
The detainee attorney stated the prior ruling interpreted the exact same statutory provision.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-53
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a non-citizen detained while seeking asylum. The government claims the statute allows indefinite detention. The detainee argues a prior ruling requires release if removal seems unlikely.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
What each side wants
The government wants to keep the non-citizen detained without a bond hearing.
The non-citizen wants a bond hearing and potential release from custody.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
What each side says
The government argues the statute permits detention beyond the removal period without specific limits.
The non-citizen argues a prior ruling requires release if removal is not reasonably foreseeable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the individual applied for asylum.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the hearings test the basis for discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-53
Why it matters
This case determines if the government can hold non-citizens indefinitely without judicial review. It affects the liberty of people seeking protection from persecution. It defines the limits of executive power over immigration detention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
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 39-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 51-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-53
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.