Anyone who is convicted of a crime should be concerned about the consequences that they may face, which could include incarceration, steep fines, and probation. But, non-citizens have even more to lose since a criminal conviction can sometimes lead to deportation. When can non-citizens be deported after a criminal conviction? Here’s what you need to know:
Certain Criminal Convictions Can Lead to Deportation
Non-citizens can face deportation if they are convicted of several different types of crimes. The first is any type of aggravated felony, such as aggravated assault or aggravated robbery. Non-citizens can also face deportation if they are convicted of certain crimes that involve controlled substances, weapons, domestic violence, and child abuse.
Being convicted of “crimes of moral turpitude” (CMT) can lead to deportation of non-citizens as well. Crimes can be classified as CMT regardless of whether they are felonies or misdemeanors. Basically, a CMT is a crime that involves conduct that goes against society’s standards of honesty, good morals, or justice.
This is a fairly broad definition, which is why so many crimes have been classified as CMTs in cases involving non-citizens in the past. Some of the crimes that have been labeled as CMTs in the past include murder, voluntary manslaughter, theft, fraud, conspiracy, and robbery.
A Note on Plea Deals
Many criminal cases, involving both citizens and non-citizens, are resolved with plea deals. There are pros and cons to accepting a plea deal, but the cons are much more significant for anyone who is not a legal U.S. citizen.
By accepting a plea deal, a defendant is pleading guilty to a crime that he may or may not have committed in exchange for a lighter sentence. This is ideal for defendants who do not want to go to trial or who want to ensure they don’t receive the harshest sentence possible. But, accepting a plea deal is basically accepting a criminal conviction, so it could make a non-citizen deportable if the crime fits the criteria previously mentioned. Therefore, taking a plea deal is not always in the best interest of non-citizens who are being accused of committing a crime.
If you are a non-citizen who is facing criminal charges, seek legal representation from Reisch Law Firm today. Non-citizens have much more on the line than citizens, so they will need our criminal defense attorneys to fight tirelessly to prevent deportation. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
