October Term 2021 · Docket 21-954
Can Texas force the federal government to detain migrants?
Texas argues federal law mandates detention. The administration claims it has discretion to choose other methods.
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
General Prelogar argued the Secretary exercised statutory discretion.
She stated the benefits of the policy were outweighed by costs.
Mr. Stone argued the case presents a procedural question.
He also addressed the substantive obligations under Section 1225(b)(2).
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Texas seeks a court order forcing the federal government to detain migrants. The administration wants to keep its current policy of sending migrants abroad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
What each side wants
Texas wants a court order forcing the federal government to detain migrants.
The administration wants to keep its policy of sending migrants abroad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
What each side says
Texas argues federal law mandates detention of arriving migrants.
The administration argues it has statutory discretion to choose other methods.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the word shall sets a detention baseline.
Justice Alito asked how far the jurisdictional argument extends.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-43
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of federal power over border enforcement. It determines whether states can compel specific federal actions. The outcome shapes future migration policy and state-federal relations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
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 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-51 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-43
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 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 47-7
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.