The U.S. immigration laws are quite tough and complex. Deportation or removal of an individual occurs when they are removed from the country under federal law and sent back to their country of origin. The deportation occurs mostly if you have violated any immigration laws. Deportation can happen to any non-citizen, including green card holders, in case of violation of laws. However, green card holders and temporary visa holders have the right to a hearing in court before deportation. The U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Section 237, mentions the grounds for a non-citizen Facing Deportation.
Common reasons for facing deportation:-
Committing a crime: Criminal convictions can lead to deportation. However, not all crimes are considered in this. Crimes that are serious and go against community standards of justice and moral values are considered here. Some examples of such crimes are – firearm offenses, human trafficking, drugs, smuggling, money laundering, terrorist activity, etc.
Violation of immigration laws: A non-immigrant on a temporary visa in the U.S. should abide by all the rules and regulations of stay. For example – If you are a tourist on a tourist visa, you cannot stay in the country permanently, nor can you work there. Deportation due to violation of immigration laws can be due to many reasons like – documentation fraud, overstaying a temporary visa, entering the country illegally, and forging incorrect information on the visa application.
Marriage Fraud: To settle in the U.S. by obtaining a green card, many immigrants get into fraud marriages. Getting married to get permanent residence is an illegal act and can lead to deportation. Suppose the USCIS gets a hint that the couple is not living together and the whole marriage is a sham. In that case, they will also deport the individual and cause complications in their future visa applications.
If you do not disclose your address change: You can be deported back to your country if you live in the U.S. on a legal visa but fail to disclose the change of address to the government. It is mandatory under immigration laws to inform the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about the change of your address within ten days from the moving day.
Conclusion
If you are in the U.S. as an immigrant, then ensure you follow all the rules and regulations laid down for you. Any violation will lead to deportation. Under the law, you will not be removed from the country immediately but will be given a chance for a hearing in court. You can hire a good immigration lawyer to defend your case and stay back to start a new life.
