On June 23, 2026, in a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Blanche v. Lau, clarifying when lawful permanent residents (LPRs) returning from international travel may be treated as “applicants for admission.” In speaking for the Court, Justice Thomas held that border officers do not need “clear and convincing evidence” that a returning LPR committed a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) before treating the individual as seeking admission.
The ruling lowers the evidentiary threshold at the border and may have significant implications for LPRs with pending or prior criminal issues.
The Court’s Framework
The decision adopts a two-step framework under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). First, at the border, a returning LPR may be treated as “seeking admission” if the government determines that the individual has committed a CIMT, even if border officers do not yet have evidence meeting a heightened evidentiary standard at the time of entry. Second, to ultimately… Read the complete article here...
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