Although it may be a simple matter of nomenclature to most people, the term ‘deportation’ is no longer used by officials in immigration courts in Alabama and throughout the United States. The term that is used now is ‘removal’, but the meaning is still the same. It is sending an individual or individuals back to their native countries because they are either found to be living in the US illegally or they have committed a crime as an undocumented immigrant. Individuals who commit crimes in the United States as undocumented immigrants certainly could face removal from the country but the question that often arises among such individuals and their advocates is in regard to what crimes qualify for removal.
Generally speaking, anyone who is in the United States illegally should be wary of committing any kind of crime but those that fall under the category of ‘aggravated felonies’ and ‘crimes of moral turpitude’ are particularly likely to get an individual removed. But what exactly are crimes of moral turpitude? They are broadly defined as any crime that is intended to cause bodily harm or which perpetrates fraud or theft. Some of these crimes include but are not limited to:
- Assault and battery
- Spousal abuse
- Larceny
- Fraud
- Smuggling
Aggravated felonies are generally considered more serious in nature and can cause an individual to not only be removed from the country but also to lose any chance of ever re-entering and earning citizenship in the future. Some of the crimes that qualify as aggravated felonies include:
- Theft
- Rape
- Murder
- Burglary
- Sexual abuse, particularly of a minor
- Money laundering
- Drug trafficking
- RICO offenses
- Making ransom demands
- Failure to serve a sentence
Anyone in Birmingham who believes they may be in danger of being removed from the country should contact a competent and experienced immigration attorney as soon as possible.
