U.S. Supreme Court to consider prohibition on encouraging illegal immigration

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Supreme Court to consider prohibition on encouraging illegal immigration

Andrew Chung
Fri, December 9, 2022 at 5:38 PM·2 min read

(Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a bid by President Joe Biden's administration to revive a federal law that makes it a criminal offense to encourage illegal immigration after it was struck down by a lower court as a violation of free speech rights.

The justices took up the administration's appeal of a February ruling by the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidating the law for infringing on rights guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

The 9th Circuit's ruling threw out part of the conviction of a California man, Helaman Hansen, who had been prosecuted under the law.

The dispute is similar to one that the Supreme Court heard, but did not resolve, in 2020.

The federal government accused Hansen of deceiving undocumented immigrants between 2012 and 2016 by promising them that they could gain U.S. citizenship through an "adult adoption" program operated by his Sacramento-based business, Americans Helping America Chamber of Commerce.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/u-supreme-court-consider-prohibition-213834055.html

[OldBaldy1701E]

1. I understand why this is something needed.

However, this is also something that could be turned against us if the rethugs regain control of Congress. I would advise extreme caution if they wish to keep on pushing it. Make absolutely sure the wording won't allow the brownshirts to use it as an excuse to go after those they don't like. They have enough leeway to do this as it is.