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Kristi Noem, Secretary of the US Homeland Security, speaks on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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Kristi Noem, Secretary of the US Homeland Security, speaks on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Kristi Noem, secretary for home protection, received a pop quiz this week during a hearing in the Senate. The question came from the democratic Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire.

Hassan asked Noem to explain Habeas Corpus.

For the recording, Habeas Corpus is the legal principle anchored in the constitution, which protects people from illegal detention.

The reason why this piece of Latin is being discussed – is that the Trump administration says that it is considering having to suspend Habeas Corpus.

This nuclear protection protection was an obstacle to the president's mass deportation plan.

Habeas Corpus is a principle that is hundreds of years older than America itself.

What would it mean if the president would expose it? And could he under the constitution?

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This episode was produced by Connor Donevan. It was edited by Courney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.