U.S. Supreme Court Tosses Law Used to Deport Convicted Criminals
- ‘Crime of violence’ definition too vague, justices rule
- Court ruling comes as Trump tries to step up deportations
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A divided U.S. Supreme Court threw out a provision in federal immigration law that had been used to deport foreigners convicted of serious crimes.
The justices, voting 5-4, said Tuesday that the law’s definition of "crime of violence" was so vague as to be unconstitutional. People convicted of a violent crime are subject to mandatory deportation, meaning government officials don’t have discretion to let them stay.