University of Michigan Law School
Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse
HOME
ABOUT
FOR TEACHERS
SEARCH
QUESTIONS
RECENT ADDITIONS
feedback/
suggestions
log in/
register
Case Profile
new search
page permalink
Case Name
Betrand v. Sava
IM-NY-0004
Docket / Court
81 CIV.7371; 81 CIV. 7372 ( S.D.N.Y. )
State/Territory
New York
Case Type(s)
Immigration and/or the Border
Case Summary
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' ...
read more >
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
compress summary
- click to show/hide ALL -
Issues and Causes of Action
click to show/hide detail
Issues
General
Habeas Corpus
International law
Immigration/Border
Asylum - criteria
Asylum - procedure
Cuban/Haitian entrant
Detention - conditions
Detention - criteria
Detention - procedures
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Causes of Action
Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Case Details
click to show/hide detail
Defendant(s)
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
Plaintiff Description
Haitian immigrants who had been confined and denied parole pending the completion of their inclusion proceedings.
Class action status sought
Yes
Class action status granted
Yes
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Defendant
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
None
Source of Relief
None
Filed
1981
Case Closing Year
1982
Case Ongoing
No
Additional Resources
click to show/hide detail
Henry Hampton Collection: Interview of Hon. Robert Lee Carter
Henry Hampton Collection: Washington University in St. Louis
Date: Nov. 5, 1985
By: Robert Lee Carter, Henry Hampton Collection
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Documents
click to show/hide detail
Court
Docket(s)
No docket sheet currently in the collection
General Documents
S.D.N.Y.
03/05/1982
Opinion
(535 F.Supp. 1002)
IM-NY-0004-0001.pdf
|
WESTLAW
|
LEXIS
|
Detail
Source: Google Scholar
S.D.N.Y.
04/05/1982
Opinion
(535 F.Supp. 1020)
IM-NY-0004-0002.pdf
|
WESTLAW
|
LEXIS
|
Detail
Source: Google Scholar
U.S. Court of Appeals
06/25/1982
Appellate Decision
(684 F.2d 204)
IM-NY-0004-0003.pdf
|
WESTLAW
|
LEXIS
|
Detail
Source: Google Scholar
People
click to show/hide detail
show all people docs
Judges
Cabranes, José Alberto
(FISCR, D. Conn., Second Circuit)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0003
Carter, Robert Lee
(S.D.N.Y.)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Kearse, Amalya Lyle
(Second Circuit)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0003
Mansfield, Walter Roe
(S.D.N.Y., Second Circuit)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0003
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Cooper, George
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0002
Helton, Arthur C.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Mailman, Stanley
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Prosser, Deborah C.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0002
Rabb, Harriet
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0002
Shapiro, Steven R.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Susman, Susan D.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Defendant's Lawyers
Abrams, Steven R.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001
Belote, Thomas H.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Dolinger, Michael H.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0003
Martin, John S. Jr.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0001 | IM-NY-0004-0002
Wolkoff, Harvey J.
(New York)
show/hide docs
IM-NY-0004-0002
- click to show/hide ALL -
new search
page permalink
- top of page -
Contact
Report an Error
Privacy Policy