Criminal Charges Affect Immigration Status

Criminal Charges Affect Immigration Status

Blog Article

1. Deportation (Removal)
   Non-citizens may be deported if they are convicted of certain crimes considered deportable under U.S. immigration law, such as:
   
   
   
   • Aggravated Felonies: Include robbery, grand theft, sexual assault, and homicide.
   
   
   • Drug-related offenses: Possession, trafficking or sale of controlled substances, except for small amounts of marijuana in some cases.
   
   
   • Domestic violence crimes: Assault or abuse against family members.
   
   
   
   


2. Inadmissibility
   A criminal charge can prevent a person from obtaining legal status, such as a visa, copyright, or citizenship. Reasons include:
   
   
   
   • Convictions for crimes involving moral turpitude (Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude, CIMT).
   
   
   • Participation in human or drug trafficking activities.
   
   
   • Being considered a threat to public safety.
   
   
   
   


3. Impact on Naturalization
   Individuals seeking U.S. citizenship must demonstrate “good moral character.” Recent convictions or serious crimes may delay or disqualify the process.


4. Immigration Detention
   Immigrants accused of certain crimes may be transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after completing their criminal sentence.