Hamidullah Ex Rel. Hamidullah v. Obama
899 F. Supp. 2d 3
D.D.C.2012Background
- Hamidullah, a Pakistani detainee, has been held at Bagram Airfield for years and petitions for habeas relief.
- Congress's MCA § 2241(e)(1) strips foreign-detainee habeas jurisdiction, but the Suspension Clause may override.
- Boumediene identified three factors for Suspension Clause reach: detainee status, detention site, and practical obstacles to habeas relief.
- D.C. Circuit in Al Maqaleh held detainees at Bagram cannot challenge detentions via habeas corpus.
- Hamidullah argues juvenile status at capture affects Boumediene analysis and jurisdiction.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does juvenile status affect Suspension Clause jurisdiction? | Hamidullah asserts juvenile status enhances writ rights. | Gates contends no basis to treat juveniles differently under Boumediene. | Juvenile status not controlling; Al Maqaleh governs. |
| Do Boumediene factors still weigh in Hamidullah's favor due to juvenile status? | Age weakens the government’s case on process and adequacy. | Sites and obstacles remain dispositive; age is not enough. | First factor modestly favorable but insufficient; dismissal justified. |
| Is Al Maqaleh controlling on jurisdiction for Hamidullah's petition? | New evidence undermines Al Maqaleh's rationale. | Al Maqaleh remains binding precedent. | Al Maqaleh binding; petition dismissed. |
Key Cases Cited
- Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723 (U.S. (2008)) (three Boumediene factors govern Suspension Clause reach)
- Al Maqaleh v. Gates, 605 F.3d 84 (D.C. Cir. 2010) (location of detention and practical obstacles weigh heavily)
- Rasul v. Bush, 542 U.S. 466 (U.S. (2004)) (application of habeas to detainees; context for jurisdiction)
- Al Odah v. United States, 321 F.3d 1134 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (education of jurisdictional rules after Boumediene)
- In re Guantanamo Detainee Cases, 355 F. Supp. 2d 443 (D.D.C. 2005) (procedural posture in Guantanamo habeas cases)