This is a rather older story, from June 2006, but I just recently found it and found it rather interesting.

With all this talk about illegal immigrants, and the idea of a path to citizenship, I find that the Court may have thrown a monkey wrench into the this plan. According to the Court the 1996 law is binding even for someone who reentered the country illegally prior to its passage. It seems the Court felt that individuals in question had the opportunity under the 6-month grace period to rectify their situation.

Hmmmmm. Interesting decision, and 8 - 1 at that, no split Court on this issue.

dmk