If you get arrested, your future could be significantly altered. You may be worried about spending time behind bars. You may be concerned about financial fines. You may worry about losing certain rights or abilities, such as losing your driver’s license.
But if you are an immigrant, you may also be worried that you are going to get deported. You have done everything correctly in terms of your immigration status. You crossed the border legally and you have a visa or a green card. You’ve worked very hard to create a legal life for yourself in the United States. Is one criminal arrest going to undermine all of those efforts and cause you to be deported?
Crimes of moral turpitude
It really depends on the nature of the crime and the reason for the arrest. Typically, minor crimes will not result in deportation. But the authorities may deport those who are accused of crimes involving moral turpitude.
This can be a bit of a gray area because there is not an official definition. It generally just means crimes that are “shocking” to the public or very serious in nature.
For instance, perhaps you have been arrested for shoplifting because you forgot to pay for a five-dollar item that you accidentally put in your pocket. Technically, this is a criminal offense if you took the item without paying, but it is unlikely to lead to deportation. But if you are accused of manslaughter or assault with a deadly weapon, on the other hand, then you certainly may be deported.
This means that every case is unique, and it is incredibly important for immigrants who are facing criminal charges to know exactly what legal steps to take.