In 2004, the supreme court's decision rejected attempts to deny habeas corpus protections to an enemy combatant who was a u. s. citizen because federal law prohibits such denial to u. s. citizens.

The supreme court's Hamdi v. Rumsfield decision in 2004 rejected attempts to deny habeas corpus protections when they were sought for enemy combatants, even if they were U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens could not be denied due process, even if they were enemy combatants. U.S. citizens are also allowed to challenge their status as an enemy combatant before an impartial party or court.

C. congress was able to pay debts run up in the war