WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court, hearing arguments Tuesday in a California deportation case, signaled it may make it harder for the government to forcibly remove legal immigrants with certain kinds of crimes on their record.

The case involves a Filipino native and a legal resident convicted of breaking into a garage and an empty house.

At issue is whether crimes such as home burglary, fleeing from the police or child abuse can be considered “crimes of violence” that trigger mandatory deportation.

—Staff and wire services