A federal judge has ruled against an illegal immigrant in Ohio, denying his request to dismiss a gun charge. The man, Carlos Serrano-Restrepo, argued that he had the right to own guns under the Second Amendment, but the judge didn’t agree.
Here’s what happened: Carlos, who’s been living in the U.S. for over 15 years, was caught with a huge stash of firearms. Earlier this year, he was charged with illegally owning a gun as someone who isn’t a legal U.S. resident. Investigators say he claimed to be a U.S. citizen when filling out forms to buy guns and ended up purchasing at least 22 of them.
When authorities searched his home, they found around 170 firearms, tens of thousands of bullets, and other items like smoke markers. Some guns were stored safely in gun safes, while others were mounted in holsters on the walls of a closet. Carlos explained that he bought some of the guns for self-defense.
His lawyer tried to get the gun charge dismissed, saying Carlos has the same right to own firearms as anyone else under the Second Amendment. However, the judge didn’t see it that way. In a written decision, the judge said it’s reasonable to disarm people who aren’t legal residents and haven’t sworn allegiance to the U.S. The judge explained that taking an oath of allegiance happens through the naturalization process, not just by living in the country or applying for asylum.
Carlos moved from Arizona to a small town in Ohio in 2022. He told the court that he last entered the U.S. illegally in 2008 and now runs a business that cleans up fire and flood damage. His trial is set for January 21, 2025.
This case highlights the debate over gun rights and immigration laws, showing how complicated these issues can get.
