Not every criminal offense is going to cause someone to be deported. Many minor convictions, such as those for misdemeanor charges, do not lead to deportation. It is also not usually an issue with civil infractions, such as speeding tickets.
When deportation becomes an issue is when the offense is serious. For instance, if someone is convicted of an aggravated felony, this may be serious enough that they could be deported. These are often violent crimes, such as aggravated assault. However, people can also face felony convictions for things like drug trafficking, significant financial crimes and much more.
Crimes involving moral turpitude
Often, the question that the authorities ask is simply whether the alleged crime involved moral turpitude. This just means it is something that is generally shocking to the public and goes against society’s standards.
For example, shoplifting is illegal, but it is not generally considered a crime of moral turpitude. It is a fairly common offense, and it may not have serious ramifications — especially for low-value items. This does not mean anyone should engage in shoplifting, but simply that the public would not be surprised to find out that a person was convicted of such an offense.
On the other hand, offenses like sexual assault or assault with a deadly weapon fall well outside of the norm. They strongly go against the general standards held by society, and so they may be defined as crimes involving moral turpitude. These are much more likely to lead to deportation.
Your criminal defense options
Regardless of the severity of the charges you are facing, it is very important to understand all of your criminal defense options. This is especially true if you are an immigrant and you believe your immigration status may be at risk. It’s smart to have experienced legal guidance.