Even if you are in the United States with a green card as a permanent resident, it is possible for the government to deport you in certain circumstances. Particularly if the government believes that you have violated immigration laws, it can decide to try and remove you.
By far, the most common deportation cases relate to criminal convictions. According to FindLaw, deportable offenses include aggravated felonies and crimes of moral turpitude.
What is an aggravated felony?
You can find the list of aggravated felonies under Section 1101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Aggravated felonies include theft, rape, drug trafficking, firearm offenses, murder and other crimes where the potential jail sentence is longer than one year.
It is also possible for the government to deport you for a misdemeanor. Generally speaking, the nature of the crime is more important than its legal classification.
What are crimes of moral turpitude?
Crimes of moral turpitude are more difficult to define than aggravated felonies. The government does not lay out the exact nature of moral turpitude in the INA. However, the courts will classify any crime that supposedly breaks the trust of the people and the country as one involving “moral turpitude.”
Some examples of crimes involving moral turpitude include shoplifting, fraud, assault, perjury and embezzlement. However, the list goes on much rather than this. It is important for you to speak with your attorney to figure out whether or not the crime the government is accusing you of committing involves moral turpitude. Whether or not the crime has this designation could greatly impact the nature of your case.