Political Quotes

Arlen Specter: Isn't the flat statement by the Supreme Court, speaking through Justice Stevens, that "aliens held at base, no less than…

On the recordMarch 8, 2007
Isn't the flat statement by the Supreme Court, speaking through Justice Stevens, that "aliens held at base, no less than American citizens, are entitled to invoke the Federal Courts' authority under section 2241"--albeit that is a statute and the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has tried to sidestep the court opinion in Rasul by saying it was a holding on a statute which the Congress can change, and denies the very strong language of the court in saying that there is a right which was established at the time of 1789, and the Constitution speaks explicitly of the ways to suspend the right, so there is a constitutional right--but taking that language, "aliens held at base, no less than American citizens, are entitled to invoke the Federal Courts' authority under section 2241,"--isn't that conclusive that aliens are entitled to invoke the habeas corpus rights under the Constitution?
Said by
Arlen Specter
Democratic · Pennsylvania

Editor's note · Context

Discussing the rights of aliens in relation to U.S. courts during a Senate debate.

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