The Supreme Court unanimously upheld a federal statute that forbids encouraging illegal aliens to remain in the U.S. unlawfully in a decision Thursday.
The Supreme Court justices voided an earlier decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which had ruled that a federal anti-harboring statute was unconstitutional on the grounds that it violated the First Amendment by restricting free speech. The ruling by the nation’s highest court Thursday upholds the law.
The Supreme Court not only vacated the appeals court’s decision, but also criticized the judges for “drastically” straying from judicial norms.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal stalwart of the bench, wrote the high court’s opinion.
“[T]he appeals panel departed so drastically from the principle of party presentation as to constitute an abuse of discretion,” Ginsburg wrote, and later stated that “a court is not hidebound by the precise arguments of counsel, but the Ninth Circuit’s radical transformation of this case goes well beyond the pale.” (RELATED: Trump’s Win With Appeals Court Prevents Release Of 250 ICE Detainees)
The decision brings to a close a court battle that lasted roughly 10 years.
A grand jury indicted California immigration consultant Evelyn Sineneng-Smith in 2010 for multiple violations of anti-harboring laws, which make it a felony to “encourag[e] or induc[e] an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States, knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such coming to, entry, or residence is or will be in violation of law.”
Sineneng-Smith encouraged illegal alien clients to apply for a certification that would allow them to remain legally in the country, despite them not qualifying for the certification, according to the indictment. She would charge her clients a fee for this service, and allegedly made millions off of the scheme.
Sineneng-Smith earned more than $3.3 million off of her clients, legal affairs outlet Jurist reported.
In a challenge to the decision, Sineneng-Smith argued that the law violated her right to free speech. The Ninth Circuit reversed her conviction, finding that the entire law was invalid as an over broad restriction of speech.
The Ninth Circuit’s reversal however, was not based on arguments presented by her defense, but by third party arguments submitted to the panel of judges.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Ninth Circuit overstepped its authority by injecting an argument not made by the defendant herself. The decision ultimately reaffirms that parties — not the courts — shape issues in a court case.
The case is now to be sent back to the Ninth Circuit “for reconsideration … bearing a fair resemblance to the case shaped by parties.”
The decision was hailed by immigration hawks.
“We applaud the Court’s well-reasoned decision,” Dale L. Wilcox, executive director and general counsel of Immigration Reform Law Institute, said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the Court did not have to reach the issue of whether this important statute is constitutional, but it did keep the law in place. When and if the overbreadth issue is brought up properly by a defendant in the future, we will be there,” Wilcox said.
The 9th Circuit court is infested with liberal judges and is overruled about 80% of the time.
Dems were all for enforcing the immigration laws until they became political tools.
Illegals have been receiving food stamps, welfare, free education, tax credits, medical care, and housing for years. Enough.
The U.S. has the right to control who enters the country. There is no Constitutional or legal right for a foreigner to enter the U.S. It’s a privilege. Every country has immigration laws, travel laws, and borders.
I like how Dwight Eisenhower handled the illegal alien problem; a military-directed operation with a no-nonsense approach to kicking out and keeping out illegal aliens. Round them up, send them home.
Enforce the law
Deport illegals
Establish a vetting process for all foreign immigrants
Build the wall
Related posts:
https://sfcmac.com/trump-administration-scotus-cracking-down-on-illegals/
https://sfcmac.com/scotus-just-upheld-our-immigration-laws-ice-can-detain-and-deport-illegals/
https://sfcmac.com/a-running-compilation-of-crimes-and-murders-by-illegals/
Related articles:
An-n-n-nd . . . the Ninth Circus strikes out — again.
What part of “. . . born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof . . . ” do the LSDCs not understand with respect to respecting the rights and RESPONSIBILITIES of United states Citizens? Too many LSDCs need to read, and
re-read, the 14th Amendment. And SCOTUS needs to come down heavy on this.
We, as a Nation, desperately need a reprise of “Operation Wetback.” Ike had the right of it. Round ’em up as found, house ’em in Arpaio-Style “tent cities” near military airfields, sort according to country of origin, load ’em into Reserve Herks or Mighty Mice, fly ’em back to the capital city airport of their COO, drop ’em off on the ramp and come home. Detail Reserve fighter squadrons (Navy and Air force as appropriate) to provide escort as necessary. Great ACDUTRA!
Even being on the Retired List since 1993, but this old Navy Journalist (back before that became a curse word) would volunteer – in a heartbeat! – to provide enroute coverage of the evolution.
If only . . .