Reno v. American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Fair Courts
This case considered whether resident aliens threatened with deportation because of their political speech and political affiliations are entitled to an immediate hearing in federal court on claims of First Amendment violations. The Center’s amicus brief argued that resident aliens are entitled to have their First Amendment claims heard promptly before a federal judge, because to delay review would have a chilling effect not only on the targeted aliens’ speech, but also on the speech of others who are watching the process. In February 1999, the Supreme Court held that courts had no jurisdiction over the claims.