A defendant charged with illegally reentering the United States after being deported is not automatically entitled to argue the removal was invalid even if he was removed for a crime that was subsequently deemed not to be a removable offense, the Supreme Court heard. The case, United States v. Palomar-Santiago, court file 20-437, was heard April 27. The government was represented at the 50-minute hearing by Erica L. Ross from the U.S. Department of Justice. The respondent, Refugio Palomar-Santiago, was represented by Bradley N. Garcia. Palomar-Santiago, a Mexican national, was granted permanent resident status in the United States in 1990. He lost that status in 1991 following a driving under the influence (DUI) conviction, which at the time was deemed an aggravated felony. He was deported and later reentered the United States without authorization. Then the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that felony DUI was not …