Carlos Serrano-Restrepo, an immigrant living in Ohio, argued in court that his collection of 170 firearms, including a .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle and multiple AR-style rifles, was for self-defense and protected by the Second Amendment.
A federal judge rejected his claim, stating that individuals in the U.S. unlawfully do not have constitutional rights to firearm ownership, WSYX reported.
Serrano-Restrepo, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2008, has been living as a taxpayer with a Social Security number and work authorization card. Despite his integration into the community and founding a successful business, the court maintained that his lack of legal status disqualifies him from gun ownership.
Judge Edmund Sargus emphasized the historical precedent of firearm restrictions for those who haven't sworn allegiance to the U.S., claiming that the Constitution's framers did not account for undocumented immigrants owning weapons.
Federal authorities charged Serrano-Restrepo with unlawful firearm possession after surveillance revealed he had purchased over 90 firearms in under a year.
His asylum application, filed in 2022, does not grant him the legal protections afforded to naturalized citizens, Sargus ruled.
Originally published by Latin Times.
