The following excerpt is from U.S. v. Aguilar, 871 F.2d 1436 (9th Cir. 1989):
On October 28, 1985, the district court granted the government's in limine motion. The lower court excluded from trial "evidence of [appellants'] belief that those aliens involved in the charges were refugees" based on their interpretation of the immigration laws. We review the district court's decision to preclude a mistake of law defense under the nondeferential de novo standard. United States v. Scott, 789 F.2d 795, 797 (9th Cir.1986).
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