Haitian Refugee Center, Inc. v. Baker

Background

A large group of Haitians who fled their country were intercepted at sea by the United States Coast Guard and held at Guantanamo Bay. Lawyers from the Haitian Refugee Center sought access to those detainees and challenged the Government’s procedures for deciding who faces political persecution. The Government asked the Court for a temporary stay of lower-court orders and for review of the case; the Court denied the stay request and then declined to review the matter.

Reasoning

The core question before the Justices was whether to take up the case and block the lower-court mandates while the legal issues are sorted out. The Court declined review and denied the stay. Justice Stevens stressed that denying review is not a decision on the important legal questions raised. Justice Thomas agreed the case should be denied review and indicated these concerns belong mainly to the political branches. Justice Blackmun strongly disagreed and dissented, arguing the split in the lower courts and the seriousness of the claims warranted this Court’s full consideration.

Real world impact

Because the Court refused to review and would not extend a stay, the major legal questions about interdicted Haitians’ access to lawyers, protections against return to possible persecution, and the Government’s procedures remain unresolved. The denial is not a final judgment on the merits and could be revisited if the case or similar claims return to the Court. Justice Blackmun warned that, given the gravity of possible returns, the Court should fully consider the merits before those returns occur.