A felony conviction could lead to your deportation. A judge may order you to return to your country of origin, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Your immigration status may not prevent your removal.
Serious felony charges include sales of illegal drugs, explosives or guns. Moving people across the U.S. border to perform labor may also result in your removal. Federal prosecutors consider selling false ID cards a serious felony.
Could financial charges lead to deportation?
Financial offenses may result in judges ordering immigrants to leave. Felony financial charges include fraud or money laundering worth more than $100,000. Tax evasion offenses could also cause a removal from the USA.
If you invest in a business suspected of producing income from unlawful activities, you could face felony charges. Collecting money from gambling could bring charges through the RICO Act. RICO charges are serious felony offenses that some businesses may try to hide from their investors.
How may I fight an order for my removal?
The American Immigration Council notes that a judge may order a convicted immigrant deported without a hearing. In some cases, an immigrant convicted of a felony offense may face removal without serving any time in prison.
An immigrant convicted of a nonviolent offense may apply for a financial hardship waiver. If your offense does not involve drugs, you may apply for a waiver to remain in the U.S. on a family visa.
Refugees may also apply for a withholding of removal when they could prove persecution if they return to their original home. The U.S. Convention Against Torture Act allows individuals to remain in the U.S. to avoid torture after deportation.
