Under a federal statute, it is unlawful for any person who is “illegally or unlawfully in the United States” to purchase or possess a firearm or ammunition.
In June 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that people living in the U.S. without legal permission cannot be prosecuted for gun possession if they:
In March 2021, a Republican House member introduced an amendment to pending background-check legislation that would require immigration authorities to be notified when a background check was requested for a person living in the U.S. illegally. The amendment was rejected by the Democratic majority.