Rehaif v. United States
United States Supreme Court
139 S. Ct. 2191, 204 L. Ed. 2d 594 (2019)
- Written by Jamie Milne, JD
Facts
Hamid Rehaif (defendant) entered the United States on a student visa to attend university but was subsequently dismissed from the university for poor grades. The university told Rehaif that his lawful immigration status would end unless he enrolled elsewhere or left the country. Rehaif did neither. When the government learned that Rehaif later shot two guns at a firing range, Rehaif was prosecuted for violating a federal law that prohibited the possession of firearms by persons unlawfully in the country. Over Rehaif’s objection, the trial judge instructed the jury that the prosecution need not prove that Rehaif knew of his unlawful status, but rather needed to prove only that Rehaif knew he possessed a firearm. The jury convicted Rehaif. Rehaif appealed, arguing that knowledge of both possession and unlawful status was necessary for liability. The court of appeals affirmed the conviction, and the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Breyer, J.)
Dissent (Alito, J.)
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