Asian Americans and The Great Writ: Habeas Corpus Yesterday and Today

The writ of habeas corpus achieved prominence in late 17th century England as a key protection against royal prerogative powers, and early Americans adopted it as a bulwark against Executive Branch overreach. This program will examine the role that Asian and Asian American petitioners played in the evolution and development of the writ of habeas corpus in U.S. courts, particularly in the immigration and wartime detention contexts. It will also explore the continuing significance of the writ of habeas corpus today.