ali federal bureau prisons et argued october decided january federal tort claims act ftca waives sovereign immunity claims arising torts committed federal employees see relevant exempts waiver ny claim arising respect assessment collection tax customs duty detention property officer customs excise law enforcement officer upon transfer atlanta federal prison one kentucky petitioner noticed several items missing personal property shipped new facility federal bureau prisons bop alleging bop officers lost property petitioner filed suit inter alia ftca district dismissed claim barred affirming eleventh circuit rejected petitioner argument statutory phrase officer customs excise law enforcement officer applies officers enforcing customs excise laws held section text structure demonstrate broad phrase law enforcement officer covers law enforcement officers petitioner argument focused preserving sovereign immunity officers enforcing customs excise laws inconsistent statute language read naturally word expansive meaning indiscriminately whatever kind gonzales example considering provision imposing additional sentence run concurrently term imprisonment gonzales held notwithstanding subsection initial reference federal drug trafficking crimes expansive word absence restrictive language left basis text limiting phrase term imprisonment federal sentences similar effect see harrison ppg industries held indication whatever congress intended limit expansive language final particular kinds agency action reasoning gonzales harrison applies equally congress use modify law enforcement officer naturally read mean law enforcement officers whatever kind sure text references tax customs duty officer customs excise indicate intent preserve immunity claims arising officer enforcement tax customs laws text also indicates however congress intended preserve immunity claims arising detention property indication intent immunity claims turns type law enforced recent amendments restoring sovereign immunity waiver officers enforcing federal forfeiture law see support conclusion demonstrating congress view prior amendments covered law enforcement officers textual structural evidence petitioner reliance canons statutory construction ejusdem generis noscitur sociis rule superfluities unconvincing unpersuaded petitioner attempt create ambiguity statute structure text suggest none congress intended limit reach petitioner contends easily written law enforcement officer acting customs excise capacity instead used unmodified phrase law enforcement officer must give effect text congress enacted pp fed appx affirmed thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia ginsburg alito joined kennedy filed dissenting opinion stevens souter breyer joined breyer filed dissenting opinion stevens joined ali petitioner federal bureau prisons et al writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit january justice thomas delivered opinion case concerns scope carves certain exceptions waiver sovereign immunity torts committed federal employees section provides waiver sovereign immunity apply claims arising detention property officer customs excise law enforcement officer petitioner contends clause applies law enforcement officers enforcing customs excise laws thus affect waiver sovereign immunity property claim officers federal bureau prisons bop conclude broad phrase law enforcement officer covers law enforcement officers accordingly affirm judgment appeals upholding dismissal petitioner claim petitioner ali federal prisoner penitentiary atlanta georgia december petitioner scheduled transferred penitentiary big sandy usp big sandy inez kentucky transferred left two duffle bags containing personal property atlanta prison receiving discharge unit inventoried packaged shipped usp big sandy petitioner transferred bags arrived days later upon inspecting property noticed several items missing staff usp big sandy receiving discharge unit told given everything sent things missing file claim many purportedly missing items religious nostalgic significance including two copies prayer rug religious magazines petitioner estimated items worth petitioner filed administrative tort claim denying relief agency noted signature receipt form petitioner certified accuracy inventory listed thereon thereby relinquished future claims relating missing damaged property petitioner filed complaint alleging inter alia violations federal tort claims act ftca et seq bop maintained petitioner claim barred exception property claims law enforcement officers district agreed dismissed petitioner ftca claim lack jurisdiction petitioner appealed eleventh circuit affirmed agreeing district interpretation fed appx per curiam rejecting petitioner arguments appeals relied broad interpretation detention clause kosak decisions courts appeals decision schlaebitz dept justice per curiam holding marshals allegedly negligent releasing parolee luggage third party law enforcement officers see fed granted certiorari resolve disagreement among courts appeals scope ii ftca congress waived sovereign immunity claims arising torts committed federal employees see relevant ftca authorizes claims money damages injury loss property caused negligent wrongful act omission employee government acting within scope office employment ibid ftca exempts waiver certain categories claims see relevant exception subsection provides shall apply ny claim arising respect assessment collection tax customs duty detention goods merchandise property officer customs excise law enforcement officer case turns whether bop officers allegedly lost petitioner property qualify law enforcement officer within meaning petitioner argues law enforcement officer includes law enforcement officers acting customs excise capacity noting congress referenced customs excise activities language issue preceding clause petitioner argues entire subsection focused preserving sovereign immunity officers enforcing laws petitioner argument inconsistent statute phrase law enforcement officer suggests broad meaning ibid emphasis added previously noted ead naturally word expansive meaning indiscriminately whatever kind gonzales quoting webster third new international dictionary gonzales considered provision imposed additional sentence firearms used federal drug trafficking crimes provided additional sentence shall concurrent term imprisonment quoting ed emphasis deleted notwithstanding subsection initial reference federal drug trafficking crimes held expansive word absence restrictive language left basis text limiting phrase term imprisonment federal sentences similarly harrison ppg industries considered phrase final action amendments clean air act explained amendments expanded list environmental protection agency administrator actions adding two categories actions actions specifically enumerated statutory provision final action clean air act emphasis deleted focusing congress choice word discern ed uncertainty meaning phrase final action emphasized statute expansive language offer ed indication whatever congress intended limit phrase final actions similar specifically enumerated sections think reasoning gonzales harrison applies equally expansive language congress employed congress use modify law enforcement officer naturally read mean law enforcement officers whatever word repeated four times relevant portion two instances appear particular phrase issue officer customs excise law enforcement officer emphasis added congress inserted word immediately law enforcement officer leaving doubt modifies phrase sure text references tax customs duty officer customs excise indicate congress intended preserve immunity claims arising officer enforcement tax customs laws text also indicates however congress intended preserve immunity claims arising detention property indication congress intended immunity claims turn type law enforced petitioner require congress clarify intent cover law enforcement officers adding phrases performing official law enforcement function without limitation congress chosen phrase law enforcement officer express intent reason demand congress write less economically repetitiously recent amendments support conclusion law enforcement officer limited officers acting customs excise capacity civil asset forfeiture reform act congress added subsections stat amended provides waiver sovereign immunity notwithstanding exception issue case applies ny claim based injury loss goods merchandise property possession officer customs excise law enforcement officer property seized purpose forfeiture provision federal law providing forfeiture property sentence imposed upon conviction criminal offense interest claimant forfeited interest claimant remitted mitigated property subject forfeiture claimant convicted crime interest claimant property subject forfeiture federal criminal forfeiture law amendment govern petitioner claim property seized purpose forfeiture required paragraph nonetheless amendment relevant construction law enforcement officer must extent possible ensure statutory scheme coherent consistent see robinson shell oil citing ron pair enterprises amendment canceled exception thus restored waiver sovereign immunity certain seizures property based federal forfeiture law see excepting property claims property seized purpose forfeiture provision federal law providing forfeiture property emphasis added petitioner interpretation law enforcement officers enforcing customs excise laws immune prior version thus petitioner reading amendment effect restore waiver cases customs excise officers officers acting capacity enforce forfeiture laws strikes us implausible interpretation statute congress intent apparent congress restored waiver respect enforcement civil forfeiture laws instead simply related customs excise petitioner interpretation makes sense assume congress went way restore waiver cases customs excise officers officers acting capacity enforce forfeiture laws unrelated customs excise petitioner fails demonstrate customs excise officers officers acting capacity ever enforce civil forfeiture laws unrelated customs excise much less frequency congress likely singled seems far likely congress restored waiver officers enforcing civil forfeiture law view officers covered exception waiver prior amendment textual structural evidence law enforcement officer fact mean law enforcement officer petitioner invokes numerous canons statutory construction relies primarily ejusdem generis principle general term follows specific one general term understood reference subjects akin one specific enumeration norfolk western train dispatchers petitioner view officer customs excise law enforcement officer read list final catchall phrase law enforcement officer limited officers nature preceding specific phrases petitioner likens case two recent cases found canon useful washington state dept social health servs guardianship estate keffeler considered clause execution levy attachment garnishment legal process applying ejusdem generis concluded legal process limited legal processes nature specific items listed department scheme serving representative payee benefits due children care legal process share common attribute listed items utilization judicial mechanism control property passes one person another order discharge debt similarly dolan postal service considered whether exception ftca waiver sovereign immunity claims arising miscarriage negligent transmission letters postal barred claim mail negligently left petitioner porch caused slip fall quoting noting loss miscarriage addressed failings postal obligation deliver mail timely manner right address concluded negligent transmission must similarly limited rejected government argument exception applied torts committed course mail delivery petitioner asserts like clauses issue keffeler dolan presents textbook ejusdem generis scenario brief petitioner quoting andrews disagree structure phrase officer customs excise law enforcement officer lend application canon phrase disjunctive one specific one general category like clauses issue keffeler dolan list specific items separated commas followed general collective term absence list specific items undercuts inference embodied ejusdem generis congress remained focused common attribute used catchall phrase cf aguilar scalia concurring part dissenting part rejecting canon applicability omnibus clause one several distinct independent prohibitions rather general collective term following list specific items particular statutory command applicable moreover apparent common attribute connects specific items use canon limit meaning law enforcement officer required determine relevant limiting characteristic officer customs excise jarecki searle example invoked noscitur sociis limiting scope term common characteristic shared noted three words conjunction describe activity oil gas mining industries ibid contrast relevant common attribute immediately appears phrase officer customs excise petitioner suggests common attribute types officers charged enforcing customs excise laws see reason relevant characteristic opposed example officers type commonly involved activities enumerated statute assessment collection taxes customs duties detention property petitioner appeals interpretive principles also unconvincing petitioner contends reading supported canon noscitur sociis according word known company keeps warren maine bd environmental protection cases petitioner cites support applying noscitur sociis involved statutes stronger contextual cues see gutierrez ada applying canon narrow relevant phrase election closely surrounded six specific references gubernatorial elections jarecki supra applying canon narrow term discoveries discoveries mineral resources contained list three words applied oil gas mining industries conceivably apply industry although customs excise mentioned twice nothing overall statutory context suggests customs excise officers exclusive focus provision emphasis subsection customs excise inconsistent conclusion law enforcement officer sweeps broadly language suggests similarly rule superfluities lends petitioner sparse support construction adopt today necessarily render officer customs excise superfluous congress may simply intended remove doubt officers customs excise included law enforcement officers see fort stewart schools flra noting technically unnecessary examples may inserted abundance caution moreover petitioner construction threatens render law enforcement officer superfluous clear ever law enforcement officer act customs excise event woodenly apply limiting principles every time congress includes specific example along general phrase see harrison rejecting argument ejusdem generis must apply broad interpretation clause render specific enumerations unnecessary end unpersuaded petitioner attempt create ambiguity statute text structure suggest none congress intended limit reach petitioner contends easily written law enforcement officer acting customs excise capacity instead used unmodified phrase law enforcement officer nothing statutory context requires narrowing construction indeed explained statute consistent coherent law enforcement officer read mean literally says see norfolk western noting interpretive canons must yield whole context dictates different conclusion bears emphasis moreover far maintaining sovereign immunity entire universe claims law enforcement officers claims arising respect detention property liberty rewrite statute reflect meaning deem instead must give effect text congress enacted section forecloses lawsuits unlawful detention property law enforcement officers iii reasons stated judgment appeals eleventh circuit affirmed ali petitioner federal bureau prisons et al writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit january justice kennedy justice stevens justice souter justice breyer join dissenting statutory interpretation beginning end requires respect text respect enhanced however decisions foreclose consideration text within whole context statute guide determining legislature intent prevent textual analysis becoming rarefied departs legislator likely understood words voted law courts use certain interpretative rules consider text within statutory design canons demand wooden reliance dispositive function helpful guides construing ambiguous statutory provisions two accepted rules ejusdem generis noscitur sociis together instruct words series interpreted relation one another today holds understanding opinion correct one possible way read statute placing implicit reliance upon comma beginning clause says two maxims noted indeed helpful recognized principles statutory analysis useful interpretative aids case clause understood went respectful submission approach incorrect general rule applied statute us analytic framework specific interpretation employs become binding federal courts confront cases series words operate clause similar one consider today case troubling result reaches also analysis employs disagreements lead dissent federal tort claims act ftca allows allege injury governmental actions vast sphere seek damages tortious conduct enacting congress enumerated exceptions act broad waiver sovereign immunity shield government suit specific instances exceptions must given careful consideration order prevent interference governmental operations described noted kosak however unduly generous interpretations exceptions run risk defeating central purpose statute issue extent exception suits arising detention goods defined circumstances relevant provision excepts general waiver claim arising respect assessment collection tax customs duty detention goods merchandise property officer customs excise law enforcement officer first reading upon close consideration plain words statute indicate exception concerned customs taxes provision begins clause dealing exclusively customs tax duties provision whole contains four express references customs tax making revenue duties customs excise officers salient features cf gutierrez ada suggest reading wholly impermissible without grammatical support detention goods stated outset second clause end clause words law enforcement officer appear argued first second clauses provision separate detentions law enforcement officers whatever capacity might act covered still preferred reading beginning second clause closing reference law enforcement officer appears another reference officer customs excise time context property detention quite sufficient view continue limited scope exception least errs adopting rule simply bars consideration canons ejusdem generis noscitur sociis canons consulted together common principles interpretation case limiting exception customs tax overcomes position maintained government adopted ejusdem generis canon provides seemingly broad clause constitutes residual phrase must controlled defined reference enumerated categories recited clause encompasses objects similar nature circuit city stores adams words law enforcement officer immediately follow statute reference officer customs excise well first clause reference assessment tax customs duties counters disjunctive one specific one general category rendering ejusdem generis inapplicable ante canon applicability however limited statutes include laundry list items see norfolk western train dispatchers hen general term follows specific one general term understood reference subjects akin one specific enumeration addition ejusdem generis often invoked conjunction interpretative canon noscitur sociis provides words companions washington state dept social health servs guardianship estate keffeler quoting gutierrez supra general rule meaning word consequently intention legislature ascertained reference context considering whether word question surrounding words fact ejusdem generis referable neal clark internal quotation marks omitted proper reading thus attributes last phrase law enforcement officer discrete characteristic shared preceding phrases officer customs excise assessment collection tax customs duty see also norton southern utah wilderness alliance applying ejusdem generis conclude means failure take agency action emphasis original washington state dept social health supra holding phrase legal process refers utilization judicial mechanism common attribute shared phrase statutory enumeration preceding congress intended otherwise likelihood drafted section apply law enforcement officer including officers customs excise rather tacking law enforcement officer end enumerated categories common attribute officers customs excise law enforcement officers performance functions often assigned revenue officers including inter alia enforcement revenue laws conduct border searches although officers customs officers excise instances staff charged duty officers federal agencies general law enforcement officers often called upon act traditional capacity revenue officer example drug enforcement administration dea federal bureau investigation fbi agents frequently assist customs officials execution border searches see gurr cadc fbi involved search financial documents border boumelhem fbi cooperating customs part joint task force formula one motors dea agents performing functions traditionally carried customs officials seized searched automobile shipped abroad still shipping container cf schoor upholding constitutionality cooperation amongst federal agencies border searches similarly grants coast guard plenary authority stop board american vessels inspect obvious customs violations see coast guard assisted immigration customs enforcement patrol aircraft interdicting vessel coast puerto rico extent detain goods whose possession violates customs laws coast guard officers officer customs excise without doubt engaging enforcement revenue laws true tax context delinquent taxpayer property subject forfeiture see glass city bank may seized federal agent assisting internal revenue service irs executing forfeiture cf currency irs fbi jointly seized currency thus final phrase law enforcement officer work makes considerable sense statute limited way reaches contrary conclusion concentrating word phrase law enforcement officer takes single last phrase extend statute covers detentions property law enforcement officer whatever capacity acts fundamental problems approach addition ones already mentioned first analysis squared longstanding recognition single word must read isolation instead defined reference statutory context see king vincent hospital meaning statutory language plain depends context dolan postal service word statute may may extend outer limits definitional possibilities interpretation word phrase depends upon reading whole statutory text considering purpose context statute consulting precedents authorities inform analysis true even facially broad modifiers word mean different things depending upon setting nixon missouri municipal league see also small citing cases must limited application objects legislature intended apply palmer wheat gutierrez example held phrase election organic act guam refer broadly elections election guam governor lieutenant governor explained reference election preceded two references gubernatorial elections followed four references context relentless repetition concluded phrase must known companions likewise addressed phrase similar statutory provision interpret today noted respondent erred placing dispositive weight broad statutory reference law enforcement officer agency without considering rest statute consulted instead context phrase used quoting deal alteration original already mentioned context suggests accordance precedents statutory provision interpreted narrowly apply customs revenue duties first clause deals exclusively customs tax duties first second clauses refers two times customs tax see gutierrez supra secret serv dept treasury tang concurring clauses dwell exclusively customs taxes except final reference officers provides immunity detention goods merchandise property etention defined legal nonlegal dictionaries alike compulsory forced punitive containment black law dictionary ed compulsory american heritage dictionary ed forced punitive issue whether petitioner property detained within meaning statute raised case leaves another day exception applicability facts see ante important however bear mind context detention goods customs tax agents rare case property voluntarily turned rather forcibly appropriated indeed customs tax agents regular business seizing forfeiting property law enforcement agents acting capacity revenue enforcement see dept homeland security customs border protection immigration customs enforcement fy top ipr commodities seized may online http ipr seizure internet materials visited available clerk case file midyear customs officials executed commodity seizures worth total gao border security despite progress weaknesses traveler inspections exist nation ports entry http according customs border protection cbp fiscal year cbp officers seized pounds illegal drugs intercepted nearly million prohibited agricultural items seized million illegal commercial merchandise counterfeit footwear handbags omitted contexts however word detention may may accurately describe nature government action prisoner voluntary decision deliver property transfer another facility example bears greater similarity bailment delivery personal property held prison trust see american heritage dictionary supra detention single federal statute mentions federal bureau prisons context property detention hand majority nine federal statutes containing reference detention goods merchandise property specific customs excise compare authorizing customs agents examine detain imported merchandise authorizing customs officials detain merchandise introduced contrary law authorizing internal revenue officers detain containers containing distilled spirits wines beer reason believe applicable taxes paid app authorizing customs officials seize detain goods ports entry enforcement war national defense authorizing customs agents detain armed vessels property found thereon attorney general secretary treasury postal service case may shall ensure equitable transfer pursuant paragraph forfeited property appropriate state local law enforcement agency shall liable action arising seizure detention transfer seized property state local officials ed supp appropriating special fund purpose property detention law enforced administered department justice establishing department treasury forfeiture fund pay expenses property detention authorizing detention goods packages inspection reason believe violation laws governing fish wildlife plants seem indicate congress contemplated statutory provision considered apply narrow circumstances officer regular business forfeiting property namely revenue enforcement least demonstrates detention difficult concept apply majority interpretation statute problem alleviated limiting statute customs tax second construction phrase law enforcement officer runs contrary duty give effect possible every clause word statute duncan walker quoting menasche reading renders officer customs excise mere surplusage need congress specified officers customs officers excise immune indeed subsumed within allegedly officer clause see circuit city stores third though final reference law enforcement officer result ambiguity legislative history virtue exclusive reference customs excise confirms congress shift attention context revenue enforcement used words end statute see discussing referring detention goods customs officers holtzoff report proposed federal tort claims bill noting exception added legislation include immunity liability respect loss connection detention goods merchandise officer customs excise indeed construction reads exception defeat central purpose statute interpretative danger warned explicit terms see kosak must identify circumstances within words reason exception less quoting dalehite difficult conceive ftca enacted congress make tort liability private person like circumstance allow officer circumstance detain property without accountable act injured tortious conduct congress wanted say law enforcement officers may detain property without liability tort including perform general law enforcement tasks done express terms one expect least reference law enforcement officers outside customs excise context either text statute legislative history absence reference presume liberties person owns property lightly dismissed disregarded ii amendments require contrary conclusion civil asset forfeiture reform act cafra applicable limits operation exception see stat limitation exception exception applies injury loss goods property seized purpose forfeiture provision federal law view amendment establishes officers customs excise law enforcement officials performing functions traditionally reserved revenue officers shall liable tort damage property owner interest goods end forfeited conditions apply regardless whether officer acted revenue laws alternatively another civil criminal forfeiture provision majority reading cafra contrary proposition premised assumption circumstance customs excise officer officer acting capacity enforce civil forfeiture laws unrelated customs excise ante customs tax officials along law enforcement officers performing customs tax duties routinely see customs border protection seizures penalties links http cbp full authority seize merchandise violation cbp laws federal agencies enforced cbp indeed customs laws expressly contemplate forfeitures seizures property nonrevenue provisions see procedures governing seizures property set forth shall apply seizures property effected customs officers law enforced administered customs service unless law specifies different procedures way example customs excise official might effect civil forfeiture currency monetary instruments bank secrecy act supp counterfeit instruments illegal music recordings firearms contraband act et seq similarly dea agent assisting customs official border search thus acting customs capacity might effect civil forfeiture vehicles goods associated drug trade federal drug laws see see also formula one motors though acting pursuant civil forfeiture law specific customs taxes dea agent covered exception exception acting traditional revenue capacity conducting routine search persons effects persons crossing international boundary counters bank secrecy act unrelated customs excise requirement exporting importing monetary instruments see ante despite elated customs duties part federal currency foreign transactions reporting act see et seq ed supp iv customs laws also notes customs agents authority seize contraband customs laws particularly dispute customs agents often act customs laws seizing property point goes unrefuted reasonable congress specified customs excise officers covered exception exception even acting pursuant federal laws generally instance applies erchandise introduced contrary law appears target importation property subject duty entry restrictions title contrast amended encompass detention goods merchandise detention property stat circumstances involving imported merchandise customs official acting pursuant law enforcement authority derived customs laws inter alia contraband bank secrecy acts true noncustoms officers acting customs capacity least renders reliance views subsequent congress suspect said subsequent acts shape focus meaning statute fda brown williamson tobacco indication however adding forfeiture exception exception congress intended broaden scope original immunity cf sec capital gains research bureau though much rely point perhaps concerns respecting suits like one us petitioner sues lost property valued law enforcement officers federal prison system must take inventory property store persons federal prison population see federal bureau prisons weekly population report online http reporting federal inmates january burden government account missing items little value substantial one sound reasons though rejecting concern interpreting statute begin already discussed congressional objective give comprehensive exception officers detain property congress likely written specific provision address point quite apart special concerns customs revenue exception interprets extends trivial detentions prison officials custody detentions property whatever value held law enforcement officials reading simply comport plain text context statute second observed interpreting another exception raised concern numerous frivolous claims liability negligent transmission risk shared business involved management detention facilities including government dolan third already place administrative procedures must exhausted suit allowed diminishing number frivolous suits heard federal see action shall brought respect prison conditions section title federal law prisoner confined jail prison correctional facility administrative remedies available exhausted cfr owner damaged lost property first must file ftca claim bureau prisons bop regional office bop turn authorized statute settle administrative claims see likely encompasses claims brought federal prisoners prisoner dissatisfied final agency action may file suit appropriate district cfr congress intended give sweeping immunity federal law enforcement officials liability detention property dropped phrase onto end statutory clause appear something afterthought seizure property officer raises serious concerns liberty people act read permit appropriation property without remedy tort language obscure indirect reasons view judgment appeals reversed ali petitioner federal bureau prisons et al writ certiorari appeals eleventh circuit january justice breyer justice stevens joins dissenting agree justice kennedy context makes clear congress intended phrase law enforcement officer apply officers carrying customs excise duties see write separately emphasize justice kennedy dissent makes clear relevant context extends well beyond latin canons purely textual devices many questions statutory interpretation issue meaning words dictionary meaning word well known rather issue statute scope boundaries congress intend set circumstances congress intend phrase used statutory provision apply majority answers question referring amendment creates exception certain forfeitures emphasizing statutory word amendment find justice kennedy counterargument convincing see ante view word provides help whatsoever word help speakers including writers legislators use general words never none normally rely upon context indicate limits time place within intend words linguistic work possible exception assertion universal truth say mathematician scientist philosopher theologian limits almost always exist call wife butter mean butter town context makes clear talking contents refrigerator say context dictionary sets boundaries time place circumstance within words apply see palmer wheat marshall eneral words word must limited application objects legislature intended apply small word considered alone answer question whether statutory reference includes conviction entered foreign nixon missouri municipal league means different things depending upon setting espondent errs placing dispositive weight broad statutory reference law enforcement officer agency without considering rest statute context course includes words immediately surrounding phrase question canons ejusdem generis noscitur sociis offer help evaluating significance surrounding words yet help limited contextual features show congress intended phrase apply broadly immediately surrounding words suggest see circuit city stores adams souter dissenting finding good reasons apply ejusdem generis statute history purposes make clear words class workers phrase seamen railroad employees class workers refer transportation workers workers kinds including retail store clerks canons construction conclusive often countered maxim pointing different direction majority opinion particular canons simply crystallize english speakers already know namely lists often always group together items similar characteristics without comic effect yoke radically different nouns single verb caught three salmon two trout cold case immediately surrounding words also every contextual feature supports justice kennedy conclusion textual context includes location phrase within provision otherwise exclusively concerns customs revenue duties nontextual context includes several features taken together indicate congress intended narrow exception related customs excise first drafting history shows relevant portion bill became federal tort claims act concerned customs excise initially relevant provision bill exempted claims arising respect assessment collection tax customs duty see special assistant attorney general alexander holtzoff wrote additional draft language namely detention goods merchandise officer customs excise law enforcement officer report proposed federal tort claims bill emphasis added holtzoff report congressional agency said expanded language sought include immunity liability respect loss connection detention goods merchandise officer customs excise holtzoff explained language suggested similar british bill mentioned customs excise officials ibid referring bill proposed crown proceedings committee report pp apr cmd proceedings shall lie section respect loss deterioration damage occasioned delay release goods merchandise reason anything done omitted done officer customs excise acting see kosak ideas expressed holtzoff report given great weight determining intent legislature least circumstances seems us senseless ignore entirely views provision draftsman members congress repeatedly referred exception encompassing claims involving customs excise functions see second insofar congress sought act exceptions preclude tort suits government adequate remedies already available kosak supra see supra supra setting forth purpose limited exception makes sense broad exception statutes already provided recovery plaintiffs harmed federal officers enforcing customs tax laws plaintiffs harmed federal officers enforcing laws see bazuaye cadc detailing history third practical difference limited broad interpretation considerable magnifying importance congressional silence justice kennedy points see ante limited interpretation phrase law enforcement officer likely encompass law enforcement officers working say borders helping enforce customs excise laws majority instead interprets provision include tens thousands officers performing unrelated tasks justice department estimates law enforcement officers including members armed services see dept justice bureau justice statistics bulletin federal law enforcement officers july although law history contains much indicates provision scope limited customs excise contains nothing suggesting intent apply provision broadly indeed multiply number officers applies likely one orders magnitude thus latin canons ejusdem generis noscitur sociis shed light application statutory phrase justice scalia pertinent easily remembered observation congress hide elephants mouseholes whitman american trucking reasons dissent join justice kennedy dissent footnotes eleventh circuit joined five courts appeals construing encompass law enforcement officers see bramwell bureau prisons chapa dept justice per curiam hatten white cheney per curiam ysasi rivkind ca fed five courts appeals reached contrary conclusion interpreting clause limited officers performing customs excise functions see abc def dahler per curiam andrews bazuaye cadc kurinsky assume without deciding bop officers detained ali property thus satisfy arising respect detention requirement appeals held detention clause satisfied petitioner expressly declined raise issue certiorari see fed appx per curiam brief petitioner consider question first time case petitioner argues concluded kosak phrase law enforcement officer ambiguous reply brief petitioner case construed portion clause issue decision bearing meaning law enforcement officer holding detention encompasses claims resulting negligent handling storage indeed expressly declined reach issue occasion case decide kinds officer customs officials covered exception alteration original petitioner reliance concluding phrase ambiguous reads much reservation question course circumstances may counteract effect expansive modifiers example construed phrase narrowly included term art compelled result see circuit city stores adams construing class workers engaged commerce narrowly based previous interpretation commerce term art narrower meaning also construed phrases narrowly another term provision made sense narrow reading see limiting officer federal officers statute reference delay made sense respect federal officers broad reading implicated sovereignty concerns see raygor regents univ applying clear statement rule applicable waivers sovereign immunity construe phrase civil actions exclude category claims even though nothing statute expressly exclude none circumstances motivated decisions cases present justice kennedy dissent hereinafter dissent argues border searches customs excise officers routinely enforce civil forfeiture laws unrelated customs excise post examples dissent provides support assertion dissent maintains customs officer seizes material defined contraband et one example post customs officer authority effect forfeiture contraband derives specific customs law see similarly dissent suggests dea agent assisting customs official border search seizes contraband acting traditional revenue capacity post argument based assumption officer assists conducting border search acts customs capacity even customs officer enforcing customs law assumption far underscores difficulty attend attempt define contours implied limitation reach proposed petitioner embraced dissent acting customs excise capacity concept included limitation statute language congress course provide definition finally dissent points customs excise officer might effect forfeiture currency monetary instruments post hardly civil forfeiture law unrelated customs excise see authorizing forfeiture property involved violation inter alia sets forth reporting requirements exporting importing monetary instruments example law enforcement officer acting excise customs capacity petitioner cites formula one motors holding seizure vehicle still transit overseas drug enforcement administration dea agents searched drugs sufficiently akin functions carried customs officials place agents conduct within scope section clear agents case acting excise customs capacity rather ordinary capacity law enforcement agents seems us dea agents searching car drugs acting capacity officers charged enforcing nation drug laws customs excise laws similarly dissent notes authorizes coast guard officers enforce customs laws post next subsection provides coast guard officers effectively customs officers enforce customs laws see providing coast guard officers insofar engaged pursuant authority contained section enforcing law shall deemed acting agents particular executive department charged administration particular law result coast guard officer enforcing customs law customs officer law enforcement officer congress note provide administrative remedy lost property claimants like petitioner federal agencies authority settle certain claim damage loss privately owned property caused negligence officer employee government acting within scope employment bop settled claims last three years brief respondents