October Term 2022 · Docket 22-179
Does a federal law criminalizing the inducement of illegal residence violate the First Amendment?
The government argues the law targets fraud. Hansen argues it punishes protected speech.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Fletcher argued Hansen induced noncitizens to stay illegally for financial gain.
Bhandari argued the government concedes the statute is unconstitutional as written.
Bhandari claimed the government seeks to rewrite the law to target only solicitation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Hansen faces charges for inducing noncitizens to stay in the U.S. illegally. He claims this law violates his free speech rights. The government says the law targets criminal conduct, not speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 27, 2023.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-47
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold Hansen's conviction.
Hansen wants the Court to reverse his conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
What each side says
The government argues the statute targets criminal inducement, not protected speech.
Hansen argues the statute criminalizes protected speech and is unconstitutionally broad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked how to handle potential jury instruction errors.
Justice Sotomayor asked about prosecutions of lawyers advising clients on legal consequences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between criminal conduct and protected speech. It determines whether laws can punish advice that encourages illegal status. The outcome shapes future prosecutions of immigration-related speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 25-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 25-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-35
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 94, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 94, lines 39-11
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.