Supreme Court Limits Deportations For Marijuana Crimes

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday immigrants cannot be automatically deported if they are convicted of relatively minor crimes involving marijuana.

In a 7-2 decision, the justices sided with Adrian Moncrieffe, a longtime resident of the United States from Jamaica who was deported from the United States over possession of a small amount of marijuana. The court said Moncrieffe should have had the opportunity to contest his deportation.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in her opinion for the court that marijuana offenses must involve either the sale of the drug or possession of more than a small amount to count as serious enough to warrant automatic deportation.

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
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