In 1982, Haitians incarcerated in an immigration detention facility in New York, pending their applications for political asylum, filed petitions for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, challenging the INS' parole policy as it was applied to Haitians. In two separate cases, the District Court (Judge Robert L. Carter) certified a proposed class of Haitians and granted writs of habeas corpus, finding that the INS had its discretion in denying the parole requests of the Haitiinas and ordered their release. Vigile v. Sava, 535 F.Supp. 1002 (S.D.N.Y. 1982) and Bertrand v. Sava, 535 F.Supp. 1020 (S.D.N.Y. 1982). The INS appealed.

The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (District Judge Jose A. Cabranes, sitting by designation) reversed, holding that while the federal court could exercise habeas corpus jurisdiction to review petitioners allegations that the INS abused its discretion in making parole decisions, in the instant case, the parole denials were justified and not an abuse of discretion. The Appeals Court also held that the United Nations Convention and Protocol did not provide any additional rights to incarcerated Haitians. Bertrand v. Sava, 684 F.2d 204 (2nd Cir. 1982).

Dan Dalton - 12/21/2007


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