Houston has a problem with crime. There are reports that the city saw over 400 homicides in 2020. This number increased to 473 by December 2021. That said, there is a chance that someone may be wrongly accused of committing a crime. The impact of this can be devastating, especially for immigrants.
This is an extensive list of crimes for which a person who is not a U.S. citizen can be deported from the country if found guilty. These concepts are covered by Immigration Law and are classified into different categories. However, the authorities consider them to be serious crimes related to drugs, theft, or acts of violence.
That is why it is important to have a deportation defense attorney in Houston. This legal professional will come to your aid when trouble knocks on your door.
Understanding The Deportation Process
When an immigrant has been found guilty of committing a serious offense, they could be liable for deportation. Deportation is the process of removing a non-citizen from the United States for violating immigration law.
The typical process followed includes these steps:
- The first step in the deportation process is the issuance of a notice. The Department of Homeland Security issues a notice to the person in question to appear before a judge for a hearing.
- The person in question hears the list of charges against them in the hearing.
- If applicable, the person is given the chance to provide evidence against the charges.
- The judge hears the evidence and decides whether to deport the person or revoke the charges.
- If the judge decides on deportation, the person in question is usually given 30 days to appeal the decision.
- Finally, the request is either granted or denied, based on which the person can continue staying in the U.S. or is deported to their country of origin.
The U.S. can detain and deport noncitizens who:
- Participating in criminal acts
- Be a threat to public safety
- Violate your visa
Types of Crimes That Can Result in Deportation
Aggravated Crimes
- Drug traffic
- Arms trafficking
- Fraud greater than $10,000
- Severe domestic violence
Violent Crimes
- Rape
- Murder
- Robbery with violence
- Assault with serious injuries
Drug-related Crimes
Trafficking, possession, or distribution of narcotics may be grounds for deportation from the country. However, there may be certain exceptions in states where the use of marijuana in small quantities has been legalized or decriminalized.
Fraud-related Crimes
Crimes that are related to fraud, in other words, incidents where someone is deceived or the truth is misrepresented intentionally, can also be a cause for deportation. This includes any financial crime such as tax evasion, credit card theft or robbery of any bank. They can also result in the person facing deportation.
What Happens When Someone Is Deported?
Most deportations are carried out by air and are at the expense of the United States government. Although there are some cases where a combination of air and ground transportation is used.
According to the official Usa.gov website, foreign citizens who have committed non-violent crimes may be subject to the Rapid REPAT program , which allows them to leave prison to voluntarily return to their country of origin.
How Long Does The Process Take?
This will depend on the country of origin of the deported person. For example, Mexican immigrants are usually deported quickly, even within two weeks of the deportation order.
However, ICE may never deport people from other countries in cases where these nations refuse to accept people deported from the U.S.
Political Changes That Encourage Deportation
With President Donald Trump’s recent arrival in the White House, deportation proceedings have increased significantly, and police officers have been empowered to carry out these tasks.
Even on the U.S. Homeland Security website itself, they report on the repeal of limits on ICE agents to give them more freedom when deporting any foreigner who commits a crime.
ICE agents who spoke to Fox News said they believe rescinding Mayorkas’ order will free them to pursue more illegal immigrants.
Conclusion
Being an immigrant takes a lot of work. You have to move to a completely new country and start over from scratch. You’ll have to learn a new way of life—a new way of doing things. Because it takes so much effort to move, you should be aware of local laws. You could end up making a grave mistake that can jeopardize all your hard work.
As mentioned above, a number of things can get an immigrant deported, including violent crime or theft. With the current administration, things have become even more tense and uncertain. The increased power around extradition does not give people a chance to defend themselves, as many people are denied a trial.
