Habeas corpus is the name of a legal instrument or writ by means of which detainees can seek release from unlawful imprisonment. A writ of habeas corpus is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a detainee be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he or she should be released from custody. The writ of habeas corpus in common law countries is an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action. -Wikipedia
A bill recently passed in the US Senate that suspends Habeas corpus for foreign nationals and even legal resident aliens within the U.S. The meaning of this for you and me is described by gawker here. A longer lament is here.
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