Have students read Handout 11.6: US Supreme Court Case Study: The Story of Keyse Jama. In small groups or as a class, discuss the case.

Questions:

1. What would you decide if you were a Justice in the Supreme Court? Do you agree with Keyse’s appeal? Why should or should not the Supreme Court side with Keyse?
2. Do you think Keyse’s imprisonment over the assault charge has had an effect on this case? Should it?
3. Should Keyse have been released from jail during his appeals process (instead of being forced to live the last three years of his life in jail)? In other words, should the courts have approved the writ of Habeas Corpus?
4. How would this case have been different if Keyse would have applied for and obtained resident status?
5. In citing the importance of this case, one of Keyse’s attorneys stated that: “if the Supreme Court sides with Keyse, it will prevent thousands of Somalis from being deported to Somalia until a functioning government can accept them.” How do you feel about this case setting the precedent for other Somali deportation cases?
6. How does this case fit into the broader picture of human rights? What kinds of rights are being used? Are there any rights being violated?