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Rehaif v. United States

United States Supreme Court

139 S.Ct. 2191 (2019)

Facts

Hamid Rehaif (defendant) entered the United States on a student visa, but he earned poor grades. The university expelled Rehaif and said he would lose his immigration status unless he attended a different university or left the country. Rehaif did neither, remaining in the country illegally. Then Rehaif shot two guns at a firing range. The government (plaintiff) charged him with knowingly possessing firearms as someone illegally in the United States. The trial judge instructed the jury that the prosecution need not prove Rehaif knew he was unlawfully in the country. The jury convicted. Rehaif appealed, arguing the judge instructed the jury incorrectly. The appellate court affirmed. Rehaif appealed to the Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Breyer, J.)

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A "yes" or "no" answer to the question framed in the issue section;
A summary of the majority or plurality opinion, using the CREAC method; and
The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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Dissent (Alito, J.)

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