I have a green card — can a misdemeanor get me deported?

Possibly. Some misdemeanors are crimes involving moral turpitude or controlled-substance offenses that carry immigration consequences even for lawful permanent residents. The specific charge and disposition matter enormously — get advice before pleading.

My criminal lawyer got me a good plea deal — am I safe?

Not necessarily. A plea that is good under criminal law can still be a deportable offense under immigration law. The two systems are separate. This is exactly why coordinating criminal defense with immigration analysis matters.

Should I tell my lawyer I am not a citizen?

Yes, absolutely, and early. Your immigration status changes the entire criminal strategy — what pleas are safe, what to avoid. Counsel must know to protect you (Padilla v. Kentucky requires that advice).

CrimigrationCriminal + immigrationProtect your status

Crimigration: criminal charges and immigration consequences

For a non-citizen, a criminal charge is also an immigration case. A plea that seems minor can trigger deportation or bar relief. Newark Law Offices handles both criminal defense and immigration in-house, so the two are coordinated — not left to chance.

Request a free consultation Call (866) 230-7236

Why a criminal case is an immigration case

How can a criminal charge affect my immigration status?

For a non-citizen, a criminal conviction — and sometimes just a plea or even an arrest — can trigger deportation, make you inadmissible (unable to re-enter or adjust status), or bar you from relief like cancellation of removal or naturalization. Certain offenses (aggravated felonies and crimes involving moral turpitude, including some drug and theft offenses) carry the harshest immigration consequences, even when the criminal penalty itself is minor. This overlap is called crimigration.

The trap: a 'good' criminal outcome can be an immigration disaster

A plea deal that a criminal lawyer would call a win — probation, deferred adjudication, a reduced charge — can still be a deportable offense under immigration law. The U.S. Supreme Court held in Padilla v. Kentucky that defense counsel must advise a non-citizen of the immigration consequences of a plea. A lawyer who handles only the criminal side may not see the immigration cliff coming.

How handling both in-house protects you

Because Newark Law Offices handles criminal defense and immigration together, we evaluate every criminal option for its immigration effect before you decide:

Whether a charge is a crime involving moral turpitude or an aggravated felony
Whether an alternative plea or charge avoids the immigration trigger
How a disposition affects removal defense, bond, and future relief
Coordinating the criminal case and any immigration proceeding as one strategy

Who needs crimigration counsel

Any non-citizen — green-card holder, visa holder, DACA recipient, or undocumented — facing any criminal charge, however minor it seems. The time to get this right is before a plea, because a conviction is very hard to undo for immigration purposes afterward.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every matter is different and depends on its own facts.

No outcome is promised or guaranteed. Descriptions of process are general and are not a prediction about any specific matter.

The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Attorney advertising. This material is for general information and may be considered advertising under the rules of the State Bar of Texas and the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Frequently asked questions

I have a green card — can a misdemeanor get me deported?: Possibly. Some misdemeanors are crimes involving moral turpitude or controlled-substance offenses that carry immigration consequences even for lawful permanent residents. The specific charge and disposition matter enormously — get advice before pleading.
My criminal lawyer got me a good plea deal — am I safe?: Not necessarily. A plea that is good under criminal law can still be a deportable offense under immigration law. The two systems are separate. This is exactly why coordinating criminal defense with immigration analysis matters.
Should I tell my lawyer I am not a citizen?: Yes, absolutely, and early. Your immigration status changes the entire criminal strategy — what pleas are safe, what to avoid. Counsel must know to protect you (Padilla v. Kentucky requires that advice).