Jennings v. Rodriguez

Rodriguez (plaintiff), a lawful permanent resident convicted of a drug offense and vehicle theft, was detained by the government (defendant) pending removal proceedings. He filed a habeas petition arguing the relevant statutory provisions didn't authorize prolonged detention without an individualized bond hearing, and that reading them to allow such detention without a hearing would violate due process. The district court agreed and enjoined the government; the appeals court affirmed, ruling that aliens must get a bond hearing every six months, with continued detention allowed only if the government proved further detention was justified. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.