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

Possibly. Some misdemeanors are crimes involving moral turpitude or controlled-substance offenses with immigration consequences even for lawful permanent residents. Get advice before pleading.

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

Not necessarily. A plea that's good under criminal law can still be a deportable offense under immigration law. Coordinating both is the point.

Crimigration: How a Guilty Plea Can Get a Non-Citizen Deported

Can a guilty plea get a non-citizen deported?

Yes. For a non-citizen, a criminal conviction — and sometimes just a plea — can trigger deportation, make you inadmissible, or bar relief like cancellation of removal or naturalization, even when the criminal penalty is minor. Certain offenses (aggravated felonies and crimes involving moral turpitude, including some drug and theft offenses) carry the harshest consequences. Immigration law is federal, so this applies the same way to defendants in Texas and Oklahoma. Padilla v. Kentucky requires defense counsel to advise a non-citizen of a plea's immigration consequences.

The trap

A criminal defense lawyer's job is the best criminal outcome — probation, a reduced charge, deferred adjudication. But under immigration law, that "good" plea can be a deportable offense. The two systems don't talk to each other. This is a federal issue, identical for a non-citizen in Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, or anywhere else.

What triggers it

Crimes involving moral turpitude — including some theft and fraud offenses.
Aggravated felonies — a broad immigration category.
Controlled-substance offenses — even minor drug charges.

Why "handle both" matters

Because Newark Law Offices handles criminal defense and immigration together, every criminal option is checked for its immigration effect before a plea.

The one rule

If you're not a U.S. citizen and facing any charge, get advice before you plead. See crimigration.

Talk to a firm that handles both — free consultation Call (866) 230-7236

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

Contacting the firm, submitting a form, or using the chat does not create an attorney-client relationship. A relationship is formed only through a signed written engagement agreement.

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

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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 with immigration consequences even for lawful permanent residents. Get advice before pleading.
My criminal lawyer got me a good deal — am I safe?: Not necessarily. A plea that's good under criminal law can still be a deportable offense under immigration law. Coordinating both is the point.

Crimigration: how a guilty plea can trigger deportation