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April 18, 2018

In 5-4 Vote, Supreme Court Strikes Down Law Mandating Deportation for Some Crimes
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In a victory for the immigrant rights movement, the Supreme Court has
struck down a law requiring the mandatory deportation of lawful
permanent residents who are convicted of some crimes, saying the law was
unconstitutionally vague. Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch sided with the
liberal justices, writing, "Vague laws invite arbitrary power." The case
centered on a Filipino man named James Garcia Dimaya, who had been a
lawful permanent resident of the United States since 1992. After being
convicted of residential burglary, the Obama administration sought to
deport him for having committed an "aggravated felony" under the
Immigration and Nationality Act. Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling will
mean that lower-level offenses are less likely to trigger the automatic
deportation of lawful permanent residents.


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