Legal right that heartens foreigners (4)
I believe the answer is:
lien
'legal right' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lien that I've seen before include "Security for a debt" , "Legal claim on the property of another" , "Right to another's property, if an obligation is not discharged" , "Right to retain property until a debt is paid" , "Sequestration order" .)