Law Commons^™

On Elián And Aliens: A Political Solution To The Plenary Power Problem, Victor C. Romero

Journal Articles

The poignant story of a little boy fished out of the sea after losing his mother to the elements captured the country's imagination and ignited a political firestorm. The Elián González saga drew conflicting opinions from nearly every branch of American local, state, and federal governments.

This article takes no specific position on Elián's situation. Rather, this artivle values the González story for putting a human face on often faceless legal issues. More specifically, Elián's saga raises the following important question: When should the right of the human being to be treated as an individual trump the right of government …

Indefinite Detention Of Cuban Aliens: Is The End In Sight?, Francis G. Troyan

Penn State International Law Review

In spite of the fact that international law dictates that a sovereign should be able to protect its borders, international law also dictates that every human being has the right to be free from unnecessary detention. For nearly eight years the United States has indefinitely detained Cuban aliens who arrived in the Mariel boatlift of 1980. This comment examines this policy and offers alternatives to improve the plight of the Cubans without sacrificing the safety of Americans in general.