On Friday, June 23, 2023, the Supreme Court released its decision in United States v. Hansen. At issue in Hansen was whether 8 U.S.C. § 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) and (B)(i), a federal criminal statute that prohibits encouraging or inducing unlawful immigration for commercial or financial benefit sometimes termed “the encouragement provision,” violates the First Amendment.

Helamen Hansen operated an advising service for undocumented immigrants who wanted to pursue U.S. citizenship. Under the encouragement provision, Hansen was convicted of two counts of encouraging or inducing illegal immigration for financial gain (along with other federal crimes). He challenged those convictions, contending the law is facially overbroad. The Ninth Circuit agreed, vacating his convictions on those counts. The Court heard Oral Argument on March 27, 2023.

In this recorded Post-Decision Courthouse Steps webinar, where we broke down and analyzed the Court’s decision.

Featuring:
--Brian Fish, Special Assistant, United States Attorney, Baltimore, Maryland