The Supreme Court debated during oral arguments Monday whether a criminal law meant to punish those who encourage illegal immigration could allow the government to punish anyone who helps undocumented immigrants.
A lower court had struck down a federal law that makes it a felony for someone who “encourages or induces” a person to violate federal immigration law, ruling that it infringed on the free speech protections of the First Amendment.
The U.S. appealed that ruling to defend the law, and justices are expected to issue a decision in the case before the conclusion of the term at the end of June.
