WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday in favor of the Trump administration in a closely watched immigration case involving the rights of lawful permanent residents accused of crimes. The case centered on Muk Choi Lau, a green card holder who was placed on immigration parole after returning from a trip to China in 2012 because authorities believed he had been involved in a counterfeiting offense. The administration argued that immigration officers have broad authority to treat certain returning permanent residents as applicants for admission when criminal allegations are involved.

Writing for the majority, Justice Clarence Thomas concluded that border officials were not required to establish by clear and convincing evidence that a returning resident had committed a disqualifying crime before placing that person into immigration parole procedures. The ruling reverses lower-court decisions that had imposed a higher burden on the government and strengthens federal discretion in immigration enforcement at ports of entry. Immigration law has long granted lawful permanent residents protections not available to many other noncitizens, but Congress has also created exceptions allowing additional scrutiny for residents linked to certain criminal conduct.