The Bush administration argued before the Supreme Court on Tuesday for the court to uphold the authority of federal agents to essentially kidnap wanted individuals overseas and to curtail the rights of foreigners trying to sue the U.S. government or corporations for human rights violations.

The case centers on a Mexican doctor who charges he was kidnapped in his home country by U.S. agents in connection with the slaying of a U.S. drug enforcement agent. He was later acquitted.

The doctor, Humberto Alvarez-Machain then sued under the Alien Tort Claims Act which has also been used by foreign nationals to sue U.S. corporations for human rights violations committed abroad.