Deportation of Green Card Holders in the US: Understanding the Reasons and Circumstances
Being a green card holder as a permanent resident of the US is usually considered a milestone. Nevertheless, it's crucial to know that possessing a green card does not ensure permanent residency in the US. In some situations, green card holders are deportable. In this article, we'll examine the reasons and situations that make green card holders deportable in the US.
Grounds for Deportation
The US government is able to move against green card holders for deportation on several counts. Some of the main ones are:
Criminal Convictions: A crime conviction can also result in a green card holder being deported. The nature of the crime as well as how serious it was determines the disposition. Aggravated felonies like murder, rape, or drug trafficking, for instance, result in instant deportation.
Immigration-Related Crimes: Green card holders who are guilty of immigration-related crimes, including document fraud or illegal entry into the United States, are subject to deportation.
National Security Threats: If a green card holder poses a threat to national security, they can be deported.
Failure to Register Address Changes: Green card recipients must report changes in their address to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Failure to register changes in address can result in deportation proceedings.
The Deportation Process
Once a green card recipient is found to be deportable, the US government begins removal proceedings. The procedure generally consists of the following steps:
Issuance of a Notice to Appear (NTA): The USCIS issues an NTA, which states the allegations against the green card holder and the grounds for deportation.
Immigration Court Hearing: The green card holder must appear before an immigration judge, who will conduct the hearing and decide whether the person is deportable.
Removal Order: In case the immigration judge decides in favor of deportation, a removal order is given, and the green card holder must depart from the country.
Consequences of Deportation
Deportation can have serious implications for green card holders, such as:
Separation from Family: Deportation may lead to separation from family members, such as spouses, children, and parents.
Loss of Employment and Benefits: Deported green card holders will lose their employment, benefits, and social security numbers.
Difficulty Re-entering the US: Deported people will have an extremely hard time re-entering the US, such as being prohibited from doing so for a certain amount of time.
In summary, although having a green card is very advantageous, it's also important to know that it does not necessarily mean that you can stay in the US forever. Green card holders have to abide by US laws and regulations or risk being deported. If you are a green card holder under deportation proceedings, it is important that you consult an experienced immigration lawyer in order to know your rights and alternatives.