The Five Main Categories of Deportable Offenses

An immigrant has to undergo rigorous processes before they can obtain a green card, or at least a legal permit to stay in a country. All the effort, time, and resources put into the process can be overturned and their visas revoked if they are found guilty of a crime.

If you’re residing in a foreign country, it’s always best to know more about deportable offenses in that particular country. We’ve made a list of the five main categories of crimes that can get you sent back to your country of origin, and we’re willing to share it with you.

The Top 5 Crimes That Can Get You Deported

Here are the top 5 crimes that are classified as deportable offenses:

1.   Aggravated Felony

As the name implies, aggravated felony is an umbrella term that is mostly used to describe crimes that involve a lot of violence. Rape, murder, drug trafficking, and kidnapping fall under this category.

Once an individual has been convicted of these charges, they are typically sent back to their country and permanently banned from returning to their country of residence.

2.   Firearms Conviction

Illegal possession of firearms is grounds for deportation in many countries. Immigrants found with firearms are assumed to be involved in criminal activity and deemed to be threats to public safety.

Examples of firearms-related deportable offenses include

• Convictions for illegal possession of firearms
• Certain weapons offenses
• Use of firearms in the commission of a crime

3.   Substance Abuse

The impact of drug abuse on a country can be quite detrimental, with different ramifications. When a country’s youth take to abusing drugs, the economy will suffer. This is why every country has strict drug trafficking rules in place.

However, the consequences of being convicted as a citizen differ from an immigrant’s conviction. While citizens get in-house punishment, immigrants will be sent back to their countries of origin to deal with the consequences there.

Back in 2017, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with the Executive Officer for Immigration Review, gave a joint report showing that drug offenses typically account for about 11% of all deportations in a year.

4.   Tax Crimes

Certain tax crimes, especially those involving fraud, deceit, or evasion, can have immigration consequences, which could potentially lead to deportation. By evading taxes, the individual has shown the government that they are dishonest and have no interest in contributing to the economy.

This violates the contracts they signed before being allowed permanent residency in the country. In light of this, the government sends the individual back to their original country.

5.   Espionage

The term ‘espionage’ refers to the act of spying or disclosing sensitive national security information to potential attackers. It’s a severe offense that can lead to deportation after intense interrogation (and sometimes torture).

The worst part is that, because of the nature of the crime, deportation is not always disclosed. This means that an individual can suddenly go missing without a trace. And the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are not always willing to divulge information regarding national security-related deportations.

Wrapping Up

You put so much effort into obtaining a permit to stay in a country, so it makes no sense to have everything taken from you. If you’ve been charged with a deportable offense, be sure to get yourself an experienced attorney to build a solid case on your behalf.