STATEMENT OF ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY GENERAL JAY STEPHENS REGARDING THE SIXTH CIRCUIT DECISION IN THE HADDAD CASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The following statement was issued by Associate Attorney General Jay Stephens regarding the Sixth Circuit Decision in the Haddad case:

"We are not seeking a stay, at this time. We will continue to defend the principle that the Constitution does not require immigration proceedings to be opened in a way that provides valuable information to terrorist organizations or others who wish to harm Americans. We will continue to vindicate that principle by pursuing our appeal in the Sixth Circuit and defending the policy elsewhere.

"However, we have concluded, in regard to the single individual in this case, that the release of past transcripts of the immigration proceedings, as required by court order, will not cause irreparable harm to the national security or to the safety of the American people.

"Until now, we have been able to justify the detention of Mr. Haddad without relying upon or revealing extremely sensitive material. Although we have filed more sensitive material regarding Mr. Haddad under seal in federal court, we have not yet used that information in the immigration proceedings. The court order does not require us to release that information, and we will not do so. If it becomes necessary to use that information in the immigration proceedings, we will seek to close the hearings pursuant to regulation."

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