Washington DC, June 24 -- The United States Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a ruling making it easier for border authorities to deport lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, accused of crimes involving "moral turpitude".

In a 6-3 ruling authored by US Justice Clarence Thomas in Blanche v. Lau, the court held that immigration officials do not need to prove by "clear and convincing evidence" that a returning green card holder committed a disqualifying offence before denying admission.

Instead, authorities need only establish that there is "reason to believe" such an offence may have been committed.

"The Immigration and Nationality Act does not impose that requirement," Thomas wrote in the majority opinion issued following the...