October Term 2025 · Docket 24-983
Does Paying Cuba to Use Seized Docks Count as Trafficking in Confiscated Property?
Havana Docks built docks in Cuba. The Cuban government seized them in 1960 without payment. Royal Caribbean later paid Cuba to use those docks. The dispute is whether that payment constitutes trafficking in confiscated property.
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
Havana Docks argues Cuban officials physically occupied the docks, making them confiscated property.
Royal Caribbean argues the statute defines property to include time-limited interests like leaseholds.
Justice Kagan questioned whether a property interest survives after a concession expires.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Havana Docks wants a finding that Royal Caribbean trafficked in confiscated property. Royal Caribbean wants the court to find no trafficking occurred. The company argues the relevant property is a time-limited leasehold.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2026.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 37-35
What each side wants
Havana Docks wants a ruling that paying Cuba to use the seized docks is trafficking in confiscated property.
Royal Caribbean wants a ruling that no trafficking occurred because the relevant property is a leasehold.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
What each side says
Cuban officials physically occupied the docks, making them confiscated property.
The statute defines property to include time-limited interests like leaseholds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked what exactly the confiscated property is.
Justice Kagan questioned whether a property interest survives after a concession expires.', 'Justice Jackson asked whether the statute's defined terms resolve the property question.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
Why it matters
The outcome would clarify what counts as confiscated property under the Helms-Burton Act. It would also determine whether paying a foreign government for seized assets triggers liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
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 47-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 39-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 39-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 37-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 37-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-29
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 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 103, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 103, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-43
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 3 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.