Getting a visa to live or work in the United States can be a difficult endeavor, and a privilege that can be rescinded. Similarly, a green card–or permanent residence status–can also be revoked on numerous grounds. And for those who don’t have legal status and are living within the United States, the risk of deportation may be constant.
For those who are foreign-born nationals living within the United States, being convicted of a crime can make things very complicated. If you are facing criminal charges or have already been convicted, here’s what you should know about how a criminal conviction may affect your immigration status in Massachusetts–
Immigration Consequences of a Criminal Conviction in Massachusetts
If you are not a legal citizen, then nearly any interaction that you have with police could put your immigration status at risk, especially if you are living within the United States as an illegal alien. Even if you are living within the U.S. legally, being convicted of a crime can have a serious impact on your legal status. If you are convicted of a crime, you could face deportation, detention, being barred from reentering the United States, or/and a denial of your application for a green card. Note that the range of criminal convictions that may result in deportation can vary based on your current status, as well as how federal immigration authorities interpret your Massachusetts crime. Drug crimes, aggravated felony offenses, and crimes of moral turpitude will likely lead to removal.
In fact, even if you hold a green card and have permanent residence status, you could face deportation following the conviction of a criminal offense depending on the type of crime. For example, crimes that are eligible for deportation include fraud crimes, sex crimes, aggravated felony offenses, and more.
What to Do if You’ve Been Convicted of a Crime
If you’ve been convicted of a crime as an immigrant in the United States, the first thing that you should do is to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer. Your attorney can help provide you with a defense to deportation.
Before you get that point, though, you should consult with a criminal lawyer as soon as you are arrested and charged with a crime. The earlier that you contact a criminal defense lawyer, the earlier that your attorney can start building your defense, reviewing the prosecution’s evidence against you, and working to improve the outcome of your case.
Call Our Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer Today
At The Law Offices of Paul R. Moraski, our experienced Massachusetts criminal lawyer knows how much is on the line for a person who is facing criminal charges, especially when there is a threat of deportation because the accused is not a U.S. citizen. To learn more about your rights when facing criminal charges, how a criminal conviction could affect your legal status, and how to defend yourself, please call Attorney Paul Moraski today at (978) 397-0011 or send our law firm a message using the intake form on our website.