Sale v. Haitian Centers Council, Inc. (1992)
- Docket
- 92-344
- Decided
- 1992-01-01
Summary
Question: Is Executive Order No. 12807 a violation of section 243(h) or Article 33? Conclusion: No. In a majority opinion authored by Justice John Paul Stevens, the Court observed that Acts of Congress do not generally have application outside of United States territory, unless explicitly noted. And, it found that both section 243(h) and Article 33 are silent regarding extraterritorial application. In fact, the language of both suggests that only individuals who have already arrived on United States soil are protected, and their use throughout history confirms this interpretation. Thus, the judgment of the Court of Appeals is reversed.