Immigrants (green card holders), nonimmigrants who are in the United States and others who intend to come to United States could face severe consequences under the Immigration Laws if they are convicted of crimes. Many provisions of the Immigration Laws were enacted to exclude or deport from the United States aliens considered to be undesirable as a result of their criminal activities. The word alien under the Immigration Laws means a person who is not a citizen of the United States. Permanent residents like all other aliens may be deported or expelled from the United States as a result of conviction of crimes. Aliens in the United States who are convicted of crime could face deportation. Aliens who are not in the United States but wish to come to the United States may not get visas to come to the United States. Aliens with pending applications for naturalization may be placed in grave jeopardy by conviction of crimes, and if denied naturalization, the alien may be subject to Deportation.
The conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude (a crime requiring an evil intent or an act which is morally wrong), narcotics, polygamy, prostitution, vagrancy, draft resistance, weapon crimes, smuggling and harboring aliens and illegal reentry in the United States could result in deportation or exclusion of aliens.
Aliens facing criminal indictments should consult with attorneys who are familiar with both criminal and immigration laws.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 27, 1989
