The first amendment is one of the most known and honored aspects of American culture. It is the very reason that our current president is allowed to demean, insult and bully marginalized populations on his twitter feed or at his rallies. Unfortunately the same protections do not seem to apply to former immigration consultant Evelyn Sineneng-Smith. Smith was convicted of fraud and convicted under the little known "encouragement provision" of US immigration law, which punishes "encouraging or inducing an alien to … reside in the United States” when the citizen knows the alien does not have legal status. A scary prospect for many citizens who stand with their immigrant friends, neighbors, and family. Fortunately while The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals quickly rejected Smith’s appeal of the fraud conviction the court also "reversed her encouragement convictions, finding that the government’s interpretation of the statute criminalizes a large amount of constitutionally protected speech." Setting up a showdown in the highest court in our nation. The result of which will have massive reverberating effects within the United States, potentially forcing the pro immigration movement underground.
Article to be found here
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