Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity

^Pr^ep^ar^{ed f}^o^r^M^e^m^b^ers^an^d^Com^mⁱ^t^t^ees^of^C^ong^r^e^ss

Congress has broad plenary authority to determine classes of aliens who may be admitted into the
United States and the grounds for which they may be removed. Pursuant to the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA), as amended, certain conduct may either disqualify an alien from entering
the United States (“inadmissibility”) or provide grounds for his or her removal/deportation.
Prominently included among this conduct is criminal activity. “Criminal activity” comprises acts
violative of federal, state, or, in many cases, foreign criminal law. It does not cover violations of
the INA that are not crimes—most notably, being in the U.S. without legal permission. Thus, the
term “illegal alien”—an alien without legal status—is not synonymous with “criminal alien.”
Most crimes affecting immigration status are not specifically mentioned by the INA, but instead
fall under a broad category of crimes, such as crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated
felonies. In addition, certain criminal conduct precludes a finding of good moral character under
the INA, which is a requirement for naturalization and certain types of immigration relief.
In certain circumstances, grounds for inadmissibility or deportation may be waived. In some
cases, aliens facing removal may be allowed to remain in the United States—for example, when
they are granted discretionary or mandatory relief from removal for humanitarian reasons, such as
through asylum, withholding of removal, or cancellation of removal. Aliens facing removal may
also be permitted to depart the United States voluntarily, and thereby avoid the potential stigma
and legal consequences of forced removal. Criminal conduct may affect an alien’s eligibility for
either voluntary departure or discretionary relief from removal. Additionally, criminal conduct is
a key disqualifying factor under the character requirement for naturalization.
Several legislative proposals were made during the 110^th Congress that contained provisions
modifying the immigration consequences of criminal activity. Enacted legislation modifying the
immigration consequences of criminal activity included P.L. 110-257, providing certain relief
from inadmissibility to members of the African National Congress; P.L. 110-340, making persons
who have engaged in the recruitment of child soldiers in violation of federal law inadmissible,
deportable and ineligible for asylum or withholding of removal; and P.L. 110-457, modifying the
grounds for inadmissibility and removal related to human trafficking.

Introduc tion ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Administration of Immigration Law.........................................................................................2
Categories of Criminal Aliens.........................................................................................................3
Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude...........................................................................................3
Aggravated Felonies..................................................................................................................3
Crimes Affecting Assessment of Good Moral Character..........................................................5
Major Immigration Consequences for Criminal Aliens..................................................................7
Designation as Inadmissible Alien............................................................................................7
Waivers ............................................................................................................................... 8
Deporta ti on .................................................................................................................... .......... 10
Waivers .............................................................................................................................. 11
Denial of Discretionary Relief.................................................................................................11
Asyl um ............................................................................................................................... 11
Withholding of Removal....................................................................................................11
Cancellation of Removal...................................................................................................12
Voluntary Departure..........................................................................................................12
Temporary Protected Status..............................................................................................13
Adjustment of Status.........................................................................................................13
Regi stry ............................................................................................................................. 13
Naturalization Restrictions......................................................................................................14
Recent Legislative Activity...........................................................................................................14
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................15

Congress has broad plenary authority to determine classes of aliens who may be admitted into the ¹
United States and the grounds for which they may be removed. Pursuant to the Immigration and ²
Nationality Act (INA), as amended, certain conduct may either disqualify an alien from entering
the United States or provide grounds for his or her removal. Prominently included among this
conduct is criminal activity.
In general, aliens may legally enter the United States under one of three categories: (1) legal
permanent residents (LPRs), who are also commonly referred to as immigrants; (2)
nonimmigrants, who are aliens permitted to enter the United States temporarily for a specific
purpose, such as for tourism, academic study, or temporary work; and (3) refugees, who are aliens
facing persecution abroad and are of special humanitarian concern to the United States. There are
two aspects for legal admission under each of these categories. First, an alien must fulfill the
substantive requirements for admission under a specified category. For example, in order to enter
the United States as a nonimmigrant student, an alien must demonstrate that he is a bona fide ³
student at an approved school. Second, aliens who fulfill substantive requirements for admission
may nevertheless be denied admission if they fall within a class of inadmissable aliens listed ⁴
under INA § 212. Once admitted, aliens remain subject to removal if they fall within a class of ⁵
deportable aliens listed under INA § 237. The INA contains bars for admission and grounds for ⁶
deportation based on criminal conduct.
This report discusses the potential immigration consequences of criminal activity. “Criminal
activity” generally refers to conduct for which an alien has been found or plead guilty before a
court of law, though in limited circumstances consequences may attach to the commission of a
crime or admission of acts constituting the essential elements of a crime. Consequences may flow
from violations of either federal, state or, in many circumstances, foreign criminal law. Some
federal crimes are set out in the INA itself—alien smuggling, for example. However, not all
violations of immigration law are crimes. Notably, being in the U.S. without legal permission—⁷
i.e., being an “illegal alien”—is not a crime in and of itself. Thus, for example, an alien who
overstays a student visa may be an “illegal alien,” in that the alien may be subject to removal
from the U.S., but such an alien is not a “criminal alien.”

¹^For^f^u^r^t^he^r^ba^c^k^g^r^ound^oⁿ^U^.^S^.ⁱ^m^mⁱ^g^r^a^{tion pol}^ic^y^,^s^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^S²⁰⁹¹^6,^I^m^mⁱ^gr^ati^{on an}^d^N^a^tur^a^liz^ati^oⁿ
^Fun^dam^eⁿ^t^a^ls^,^by^{Ruth Elle}^{n W}^a^se^m^.
²^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^§§¹¹⁰¹^et^seq^.
³^I^N^A^{§ 101(}^a⁾⁽¹⁵⁾⁽^F⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁰¹⁽^a⁾⁽¹⁵⁾⁽^F⁾^.
⁴^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}¹⁸²^.
⁵^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}²²⁷^.
⁶^Se^e^I^N^A^{§§ 2}¹²⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾²³⁷⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§^§¹¹⁸²⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾^,¹²²⁷⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾^.
⁷^Un^l^a^wf^u^l^p^r^esen^{ce i}^s^oⁿ^l^y^{a cri}^mⁱⁿ^al^o^f^f^eⁿ^s^e^w^h^en^an^alⁱ^eⁿⁱ^s^f^o^undⁱⁿ^t^h^{e U}ⁿⁱ^t^e^d^S^t^at^{es af}^t^e^{r h}^a^viⁿ^g^b^een^f^o^rmal^l^y
^r^e^m^o^v^e^{d or}^a^f^te^r^de^pa^r^ting^the^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^w^h^ile^a^r^e^m^o^v^a^{l or}^de^r^w^a^s^outs^t^aⁿ^dⁱ^ng^{. I}^N^A^{§ 2}^76;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹³²⁶^.

For several decades, the primary authority to interpret, implement, and enforce the provisions of ⁸
the INA was vested with the Attorney General. The Attorney General delegated most authority
over immigration matters to two bodies within the Department of Justice (DOJ): the Immigration
and Naturalization Service (INS), which was delegated authority over immigration enforcement
and service functions, and the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), which was
delegated adjudicatory functions over immigration matters. Following the establishment of the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the INS was abolished and its functions were
transferred to DHS. Pursuant to INA § 103(a)(1), as amended, the DHS Secretary is now
“charged with the administration and enforcement of ... [the INA] and all other laws relating to
the immigration and naturalization of aliens, except insofar as this chapter or such laws relate to
the powers, functions, and duties conferred upon the ... [other executive officers and agencies ⁹
including] the Attorney General.... ”
Pursuant to INA § 103, as amended, EOIR retains adjudicative authority over immigration
matters, and rulings by the Attorney General with respect to questions of immigration law remain ¹⁰
controlling upon immigration authorities. However, the precise scope of the Attorney General’s
continued authority over other immigration matters remains unclear, because most provisions of
the INA have not been specifically amended to reflect the transfer of certain immigration ¹¹
functions to DHS. As a result, many of the regulations implemented by DHS and EOIR are ¹²
presently duplicative or otherwise overlapping. The Homeland Security Act of 2002, which
established DHS and transferred to it many immigration functions previously conducted by the
INS, provided a general guideline that immigration officials to whom immigration functions were
transferred “may, for purposes of performing the function, exercise all authorities under any other
provisions of law that were available with respect to the performance of that function to the ¹³
official responsible for the performance of the function immediately before [transfer].” As a
practical matter, the DHS has primary day-to-day authority over immigration matters, while the
Attorney General and EOIR maintain adjudicatory authority over immigration matters and
questions of immigration law.

⁸^P^r^im^a^r^y^a^u^thor^ity^ov^e^rⁱ^m^mⁱ^g^r^a^tⁱ^{on m}^a^tte^r^s^w^a^s^tr^aⁿ^s^f^e^r^r^e^{d f}^r^o^m^t^h^e^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}^La^bor^to^the^D^e^pa^r^t^m^e^{nt of}
^J^u^s^tic^eⁱⁿ¹⁹^{40. R}^e^or^g^.^P^l^aⁿ^N^o^.^{5 of}¹⁹⁴⁰^{, 5}^Fe^d.^R^e^g^.²²²³⁽¹⁹⁴⁰⁾^.
⁹⁸^U.S^.^C.^§¹¹⁰³^(a)(1^).
¹⁰^Id^.^a^t^{§ 11}⁰³⁽^a⁾⁽¹⁾^,⁽^g⁾^.
¹¹^For^f^u^r^t^he^r^ba^c^k^g^r^ound^oⁿ^t^h^e^tr^aⁿ^s^f^e^r^ofⁱ^m^mⁱ^g^r^a^{tion a}^u^th^or^ity^to^the^D^H^S^{, s}^e^e^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^L³¹⁹^97,^Aut^hority^to
^Enforc^e^the^Immi^grati^oⁿ^a^{nd N}^a^ti^ona^lity^Ac^{t (}^I^{NA) in}^th^e^W^a^k^e^o^f^t^h^e^Home^lan^d^Se^c^u^rity^Ac^{t: Le}^gal^Issue^s^{, by}
^Ste^pheⁿ^R^.^Vi^na^.
¹²^A^c^c^o^rding^t^o^the^{DOJ, w}^h^ic^h^issue^d^t^h^e^s^e^re^g^u^la^{tions j}^u^{st pr}^ior^to^the^traⁿ^sf^e^r^of^c^e^r^ta^{in im}^mⁱ^g^r^a^tio^{n a}^u^t^hority^{to t}^h^e
^D^H^S^{, the}^du^plic^a^tio^{n of}^r^e^g^u^la^tio^ns^w^a^s^inte^nde^{d “}^t^{o e}ⁿ^s^u^r^e^c^o^ntiⁿ^uity^{, e}^v^eⁿ^thoug^h^the^A^ttorⁿ^e^y^G^e^ne^r^a^{l a}^nd
^S^ecret^ar^y^ma^y^l^a^t^e^{r a}^m^en^d^t^h^ei^{r r}^e^sp^ectⁱ^v^{e re}^gu^l^a^tⁱ^oⁿ^s^t^o^f^u^rt^h^e^{r se}^p^a^rat^e^t^h^{e p}^r^o^ced^u^r^{es and}^cl^ari^f^y^t^h^o^s^{e sect}ⁱ^oⁿ^s^t^h^at
^{affect each}^ag^en^c^y^{... [b}^u^t^{] th}^e^d^u^p^licatioⁿ^assu^{res th}^{at i}ⁿ^terp^retati^oⁿ^w^{ill b}^e^coⁿ^s^isteⁿ^t^uⁿ^tⁱ^l^co^o^r^dⁱⁿ^a^ted^d^ecisioⁿ^{s are}
^m^a^de^re^spe^c^ting^the^s^e^proc^e^dure^s^.”^De^pa^rtm^e^{nt of}^Justi^c^e^,^Fina^{l R}^u^le^{, A}^lie^{ns a}^{nd Na}^ti^ona^lity^{; Hom}^e^la^{nd Se}^c^u^rity^;
^R^e^or^g^a^niz^a^tion^of^R^e^g^u^la^tions^{, 6}⁸^Fe^d.^R^e^g^.⁹⁸²⁴^{, 9}⁸²⁵⁽^F^e^b^r^u^a^r^y^28,²⁰⁰³⁾⁽^c^o^d^if^ie^{d a}^t^{8 C}^.^F.R^pt^s^.^I^,^V)^.
¹³^H^o^m^e^la^{nd Se}^c^u^r^ity^A^c^{t of}^2002,^P.L^.¹⁰^7-²^96,^§⁴⁵^6.

The INA lists a number of criminal grounds for designating an alien as inadmissible or
deportable. Most crimes included under these grounds are not specifically mentioned, but instead
fall under a broad category of crimes, such as crimes involving moral turpitude or aggravated
felonies. In addition, certain criminal conduct precludes a finding of good moral character under
the INA, thereby preventing an alien from becoming either a naturalized U.S. citizen or a
candidate for certain types of relief.
The class of crimes involving moral turpitude, the class of aggravated felonies, and the class of
crimes that preclude a finding of good moral character are overlapping, but no two classes are
coextensive. The types of crimes constituting crimes of moral turpitude are determined by case
law. Crimes that are aggravated felonies are listed in statute, with case law illuminating the
bounds of certain listed crimes. Crimes precluding a finding of good moral character are
determined by a combination of case law and statutory law. These criminal classes are further ¹⁴
modified for the purposes of specific INA provisions. The following sections will describe these
criminal categories in more detail.
Immigration law has used the term “moral turpitude” in its criminal grounds for exclusion since ¹⁵
1891. Whether a crime involves moral turpitude has been determined by judicial and
administrative case law rather than a statutory definition. In general, if a crime manifests an
element of baseness or depravity under current mores—if it evidences an evil or predatory
intent—it involves moral turpitude. Thus, certain crimes such as murder, rape, blackmail, and
fraud have been considered crimes involving moral turpitude, whereas crimes such as simple ¹⁶
assault have not been considered to involve moral turpitude.
Since 1988, Congress has designated specific offenses as aggravated felonies for immigration
purposes, and it has made removal of aliens convicted of such crimes a priority through
streamlined procedures and ineligibility for various types of relief. Aggravated felonies were

¹⁴^F^o^{r exam}^p^l^e,^c^r^ime^s^inv^o^lv^{ing m}^o^{ral t}^u^rpi^t^ude^tha^t^m^a^y^m^a^k^e^aⁿ^a^lieⁿⁱⁿ^adm^is^sⁱ^bleⁱⁿ^cl^u^d^e^al^l^su^ch^cri^m^{es o}^t^h^e^r
^thaⁿ⁽¹^{) a}^sing^le^suc^h^c^r^im^e^c^o^m^m^itte^{d by}^a^mⁱ^{nor if}^the^c^rⁱ^m^e^w^a^{s c}^o^m^m^itte^{d, a}^{nd a}ⁿ^y^c^onf^ine^m^eⁿ^{t e}^nde^d^,^a^t^le^a^s^t
^fⁱ^ve^y^e^a^r^s^be^f^o^r^e^a^pplyⁱ^ng^f^o^r^a^d^mⁱ^ss^{ion or}⁽²⁾^a^sⁱ^ng^le^mⁱ^s^d^em^eanor^f^o^r^w^h^ic^{h t}^h^e^te^r^m^ofⁱ^m^pr^is^onm^eⁿ^{t im}^pos^e^d^{, if}
^an^y^,^dⁱ^d^no^t^exceed^si^x^m^oⁿ^t^h^s^.^I^N^A^§²¹²⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾^.^Oⁿ^t^h^e^o^t^he^r^ha^nd,^c^r^ime^s^inv^o^lv^ing
^mo^ra^{l t}^u^rp^it^u^d^e^t^h^at^m^a^y^m^a^{ke an}^alⁱ^eⁿ^d^e^po^rt^ab^l^eⁱⁿ^cl^ud^{e (1}⁾^oⁿ^e^coⁿ^vⁱ^c^tⁱ^o^{n o}^f^su^ch^{a cri}^m^{e co}^mmⁱ^t^t^e^d^wⁱ^t^hⁱⁿ^fⁱ^ve
^{years o}^f^en^t^r^y^(t^en^y^e^{ars i}ⁿ^t^h^{e case o}^f^{a s}^m^al^l^su^b^cat^ego^r^y^o^f^alⁱ^eⁿ^s^{) i}^f^t^h^{e cri}^m^{e i}^s^p^uⁿⁱ^s^h^a^b^l^e^b^y^at^l^east^oⁿ^e^y^ear’s
^im^prisonm^eⁿ^{t, a}^{nd (2)}^the^c^o^nv^ic^tion^of^m^o^re^thaⁿ^one^s^u^c^h^c^r^im^e^,^w^h^eⁿ^e^v^e^r^c^o^m^m^itte^{d a}^{nd w}^h^a^t^e^v^e^r^the^p^o^te^ntia^l
^pun^is^hm^eⁿ^{t, if}^the^c^r^im^e^s^w^e^re^{not c}^o^m^m^itte^{d in a}^sⁱ^ng^le^s^c^he^m^e^{of c}^r^im^ina^l^c^onduc^t.^IN^A^{§ 23}^7(a⁾⁽²^)(A^{); § 8 U}^.^S.C.
^§¹²²⁷^(a)(2^)(A^).
¹⁵^P^r^ior^to¹⁸⁹¹^{, c}^o^nv^ic^tion^of^a^“^f^eloni^ous^c^r^im^e^”^s^e^r^v^e^d^a^s^the^ba^sⁱ^s^of^e^x^c^l^us^{ion. S}^ubs^e^q^ue^ntly^{, c}^onv^ic^{tion f}^o^r^a
^“^f^e^l^ony^or^othe^rⁱⁿ^f^a^m^ous^c^r^im^e^o^r^mⁱ^s^d^em^e^a^nor^inv^o^lv^ing^m^o^r^a^{l t}^u^r^p^it^ude^”^c^o^uld^c^ons^ti^tute^g^r^o^uⁿ^d^s^f^o^r^a^lieⁿ
^e^x^c^l^us^{ion. A}^c^{t of}^Ma^r^c^{h 3,}¹⁸^91,²⁶^Sta^t^.¹⁰^84,^c^h^.⁵⁵^1.
¹⁶^For^a^m^o^r^e^th^or^o^u^g^h^lis^ti^ng^of^c^r^im^e^s^f^ound^to^inv^o^lv^e^m^o^r^a^{l tur}^pⁱ^t^ude^{, s}^e^e^Ma^r^y^e^lle^{n Fulle}^r^t^oⁿ^&^N^o^a^h^Kⁱⁿⁱ^g^s^te^in,
^Str^a^te^gie^s^f^o^r^Am^e^lⁱ^o^r^a^ti^ng^the^I^m^mⁱ^gr^atio^{n C}^ons^e^q^ue^nc^e^s^{of C}^rⁱ^m^{inal C}^onv^ic^ti^ons^:^{A G}^uⁱ^d^e^for^D^e^fe^ns^e^Attorⁿ^e^y^s^{, 2}³
^A^M^.^C^RI^M^.^L.^R^EV^{. 425,}⁴^31-^{36 (}¹⁹⁸⁶⁾^.

initially listed under the INA pursuant to the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988¹⁷ as part of a broad
effort to combat narcotics trafficking. The only crimes designated in the 1988 Act were murder, ¹⁸
drug trafficking, and illegal trafficking in firearms or destructive devices. Subsequent legislation
has expanded the definition of “aggravated felony” a number of times, to include certain
categories of crimes and many specific crimes.
Section 101(a)(43) of the INA defines “aggravated felony” through the listing of a number of
criminal categories and specified crimes. The broadest categories of aggravated felonies under the
INA are as follows:
• any crime of violence (including crimes involving a substantial risk of the use of
physical force) for which the term of imprisonment is at least one year;
• any crime of theft (including the receipt of stolen property) or burglary for which
the term of imprisonment is at least one year; and
• illegal trafficking in drugs, firearms, or destructive devices.
Many specific crimes are also listed as aggravated felonies under the INA. These include the
following:
• murder;
• rape;
• sexual abuse of a minor;
• illicit trafficking in a controlled substance, including a federal drug trafficking
offense;
• illicit trafficking in a firearm, explosive, or destructive device;
• federal money laundering or engaging in monetary transactions in property
derived from specific unlawful activity, if the amount of the funds exceeded
$10,000;
• any of various federal firearms or explosives offenses;
• any of various federal offenses relating to a demand for, or receipt of, ransom;
• any of various federal offenses relating to child pornography;
• a federal racketeering offense;
• a federal gambling offense (including the transmission of wagering information
in commerce if the offense is a second or subsequent offense) which is
punishable by imprisonment of at least a year;
• a federal offense relating to the prostitution business;
• a federal offense relating to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude, or trafficking
in persons;

¹⁷^P^.^L^.¹⁰^0-⁶⁹⁰⁽¹⁹⁸⁸⁾^.
¹⁸^S^{ee i}^d^.^a^t^§⁷³⁴²^.

• any of various offenses relating to espionage, protecting undercover agents,
classified information, sabotage, or treason;
• fraud, deceit, or federal tax evasion, if the offense involves more than $10,000;
• alien smuggling, other than a first offense involving the alien’s spouse, child, or
parent;
• illegal entry or reentry of an alien previously deported on account of committing
an aggravated felony;
• an offense relating to falsely making, forging, counterfeiting, mutilating, or
altering a passport or immigration document if (1) the term of imprisonment is at
least a year and (2) the offense is not a first offense relating to the alien’s spouse,
parent, or child;
• failure to appear for service of a sentence, if the underlying offense is punishable
by imprisonment of at least five years;
• an offense relating to commercial bribery, counterfeiting, forgery, or trafficking
in vehicles with altered identification numbers, for which the term of
imprisonment is at least one year;
• an offense relating to obstruction of justice, perjury or subornation of perjury, or
bribery of a witness, for which the term of imprisonment is at least one year;
• an offense relating to a failure to appear before a court pursuant to a court order
to answer to or dispose of a charge of a felony for which a sentence of two years’
imprisonment or more may be imposed; and
• an attempt or conspiracy to commit one of the foregoing offenses.
Unless otherwise specified, an aggravated felony includes both state and federal convictions, as
well as foreign convictions for which the term of imprisonment was completed less than 15 years ¹⁹
earlier.
The possession of good moral character appears always to have been a statutory requirement for ²⁰
naturalization, and good moral character now also bears on the eligibility for various forms of ²¹
immigration relief. Prior to 1952, the effect of criminal conduct upon assessments of good
moral character was determined solely by case law and administrative practice. Following the
enactment of the INA, certain criminal activities were statutorily designated as barring a finding
of good moral character. The activities listed by the INA as prohibiting a finding of good moral
character are not exclusive, and engaging in illegal activity that is not specifically designated by ²²
the INA may therefore still be considered when assessing character.

¹⁹^I^N^A^{§ 101(}^a⁾⁽⁴³⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁰¹⁽^a⁾⁽⁴³⁾^.
²⁰^P^o^s^s^e^s^sⁱ^on^of^“^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^”^w^a^s^a^r^e^quir^e^m^e^{nt f}^o^r^na^tur^a^liz^a^tion^un^de^r^the^or^ig^ina^l^U^.^S^.ⁿ^a^tur^a^liz^a^tion^la^w^.
^A^c^{t o}^f^Ma^r^c^{h 26,}¹⁷⁹⁰^,^{1 Sta}^t¹⁰^3-¹^04.
²¹^For^a^m^o^r^e^de^ta^ile^d^dis^c^us^sⁱ^oⁿ^of^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^{, s}^e^e⁷^C^HA^R^L^E^S^G^ORDON^,^S^TA^N^L^E^Y^M^AI^L^M^A^N^&^S^T^E^P^HE^N
^Y^AL^E^-L^OE^H^R^,⁷^I^M^M^I^GRAT^I^ON^L^AW^&^P^ROCE^DURE^§⁹⁵^.^04[^1]⁽²⁰⁰²⁾^[^he^r^e^inafte^r^“G^ORDON^&^M^AI^L^M^AN^”]^.
²²^Se^e^{8 C}^.^F.R^.^§³¹^6.1⁰⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^s^ta^ti^ng^tha^t^na^tur^a^liz^a^tio^{n of}^fⁱ^cⁱ^a^l^s^“^e^v^a^lua^t^e^c^l^aⁱ^m^s^of^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^{on a}^c^a^s^e^-
⁽^c^onti^nue^d.^..)

Although not every activity listed by the INA as barring a finding of good moral character ²³
directly relates to illegal behavior, most do. Pursuant to INA § 101(f), an alien is barred from
being found to have good moral character if, during the period for which character is required to ²⁴
be established, the alien
• commits certain acts related to prostitution or another commercialized vice;
• knowingly encourages, induces, assists, abets, or aids any other alien to enter or
to try to enter the United States in violation of law, except in limited
circumstances;
• commits a crime of moral turpitude, unless the alien committed only one crime
and either (1) the crime was committed while the alien was a minor and the crime
(as well as the alien’s release from any imprisonment for the crime) occurred at
least five years prior to the pertinent application or (2) the maximum possible
penalty for the crime did not exceed one year’s imprisonment and the sentence
imposed did not exceed six months;
• violates a federal, state, or foreign law or regulation relating to a controlled
substance, other than a single offense of possessing 30 grams or less of
marijuana;
• commits two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence imposed was at
least five years;
• gives false information in attempting to receive a benefit under the INA;
• has an income principally derived from illegal gambling activities;
• commits at least two gambling offenses for which the alien is convicted;
• is in criminal confinement for at least 180 days; or
• has at any time been convicted of an aggravated felony.²⁵
As previously mentioned, the INA’s listing of conduct barring a finding of good moral character
is not exclusive, and other activities—criminal or otherwise—may also bar an alien from
citizenship or immigration benefits on character grounds. Among potential disqualifying conduct
are an alien’s deliberate non-support of his or her family, adultery that tended to destroy an

^(...c^on^tin^ue^d)
^by^-c^a^s^e^ba^sⁱ^s^ta^kⁱ^ng^{into a}^c^c^oun^t^the^e^l^e^m^eⁿ^ts^e^num^e^r^a^t^e^d^[^u^nde^{r t}^h^e^IN^A^a^{nd c}^o^rre^s^p^o^ndi^ng^re^g^u^la^tions^]^{... a}^nd^the
^st^an^d^a^rd^{s o}^f^t^h^{e average ci}^tⁱ^zenⁱⁿ^t^h^{e co}^mm^uⁿⁱ^t^y^o^f^resi^d^eⁿ^ce”).
²³^For^e^x^a^m^ple^,^aⁿ^a^lie^{n de}^te^r^m^ine^d^to^be^a^ha^bit^u^a^l^dr^unk^a^r^{d is}^s^t^a^t^utor^ily^ba^r^r^e^{d f}^r^om^be^ing^c^ons^ide^r^e^d^to^pos^s^e^s^s
^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^{. I}^N^A^{§ 101(}^f⁾⁽¹⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁰¹⁽^f⁾⁽¹⁾^.
²⁴^T^h^e^I^N^Aⁱ^m^pos^e^s^dif^f^e^r^eⁿ^{t r}^e^qui^r^e^m^e^nts^{on a}ⁿ^a^lie^{n t}^o^de^m^ons^tr^a^t^e^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^de^pe^nd^ing^up^{on w}^h^a^t
^be^ne^f^{it he}^{or s}^h^e^{is se}^e^k^ing^.^{For e}^x^a^m^ple^,^m^o^{st L}^P^{Rs pe}^titi^on^ing^f^o^{r na}^tura^liz^a^tio^{n m}^u^{st ha}^v^e^re^side^d^{in t}^h^e^Unite^d
^Sta^t^e^s^f^o^r^a^t^le^a^s^{t f}ⁱ^v^e^y^e^a^r^s^a^{nd h}^a^v^e^s^how^{n g}^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^durⁱⁿ^g^this^pe^rⁱ^o^d^{. I}^N^A^{§ 3}¹⁶⁽^a⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§
¹⁴²⁷⁽^a⁾^.^For^a^no^n-^L^P^R^a^lie^{n t}^o^b^e^e^lig^ible^f^o^r^c^aⁿ^c^e^lla^{tion of}^r^e^m^o^v^a^{l f}^r^o^m^the^Uⁿ^ite^{d Sta}^t^e^s^,^he^or^s^h^e^m^u^s^t^ha^v^e^ha^d
^a^c^ontin^uo^us^pr^e^s^eⁿ^c^e^{in t}^h^e^Uⁿ^it^e^d^Sta^t^e^s^f^o^r^a^t^le^a^s^{t 10 y}^e^a^r^s^a^{nd g}^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^durⁱⁿ^g^tha^t^pe^rⁱ^od^{. I}^N^A^§
^240A⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²²⁹^b(^b)⁽¹⁾^.
²⁵^H^o^w^e^ve^r^,^a^c^onv^ic^{tion f}^o^r^aⁿ^a^g^gr^a^v^a^t^e^d^f^e^lony^bef^o^r^e^N^o^v^e^m^b^e^r^29,¹⁹⁹⁰⁽^o^t^h^e^r^t^h^aⁿ^f^o^r^m^u^r^d^e^r⁾^doe^sⁿ^o^t
^a^u^tom^a^tic^a^l^l^y^pr^e^c^l^ude^a^fⁱ^nding^of^g^{ood m}^o^r^a^{l c}^h^a^r^a^c^t^e^r^unde^r^I^N^A^{§ 101(}^f⁾^{. 8}^C^.^F.R^.^§³^16.⁶⁰⁽^b)⁽¹⁾^.

existing marriage, and other notorious unlawful conduct.²⁶ Additionally, crimes committed before ²⁷
the “good moral character” period may be considered.

Certain criminal conduct may have a substantial impact upon an alien’s ability to enter or remain
in the United States, and it may also affect the availability of discretionary forms of immigration
relief and the ability of an alien to become a U.S. citizen. The following sections describe the
major immigration consequences for aliens who engage in certain criminal conduct.
The INA categorizes certain classes of aliens as inadmissible, making them “ineligible to receive ²⁸
visas and ineligible to be admitted to the United States.” Aliens who commit certain crimes are
designated as inadmissible. Aliens designated as inadmissible include any alien who, inter alia
• has been convicted of, admits having committed, or admits to acts comprising
essential elements of a crime involving moral turpitude (other than a purely
political offense), unless (1) the alien committed only one crime and (2)(a) the
crime was committed when the alien was under the age of 18 and the crime was
committed (and any related incarceration ended) more than five years prior to the
application for admission or for a visa or (b) the maximum penalty for the crime
at issue did not exceed one year’s imprisonment and, if convicted, the alien was
not sentenced to more than six months;
• has been convicted of, admits having committed, or admits to acts comprising
essential elements of a federal, state, or foreign law violation relating to a
controlled substance;
• based on the knowledge or reasonable belief of a consular officer or immigration
officer, (1) is or has been an illicit trafficker in a controlled substance, or
knowingly is or has been an aider or abettor of a controlled substance, or (2) is
the spouse, son, or daughter of an alien inadmissible for the foregoing reasons,
and has, within the previous five years, obtained any financial or other benefit
from the illicit activity of that alien, and knew or reasonably should have known
that the financial or other benefit was the product of such illicit activity;
• has been convicted of two or more offenses for which the aggregate sentence
imposed was at least five years;
• is coming to the United States to engage in (or within 10 years of applying for
admission has engaged in) prostitution (including procurement and receipt of

²⁶^Id^.^a^t^{§ 31}^6.6⁰⁽^b⁾⁽³⁾^.^Se^e^ge^ne^r^a^l^l^y^G^ORDON^&^M^AI^L^M^AN^,^s^upr^a^no^t^e²¹^,^§^95.⁰⁴^[¹^]^[^b^]^.
²⁷⁸^C.F^.^R.^§³¹⁶^.⁶⁰^(a)(2^).
²⁸^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^a⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^a⁾^.

proceeds) or is coming to the United States to engage in another form of unlawful
commercialized vice;
• committed a serious crime for which diplomatic immunity or other form of
immunity was claimed;
• (1) commits or has conspired to commit a human trafficking offense, either in or
outside the United States, or is known or reasonably believed to have aided or
otherwise furthered severe forms of human trafficking or (2) is known or
reasonably believed to be the adult child or spouse of such an alien and
knowingly benefitted from the proceeds of illicit activity while an adult in the
past 5 years;
• based on the knowledge or reasonable belief of a consular officer or immigration
officer, is engaging, or seeks to enter the United States to engage, in a federal
offense of money laundering, or is or has been a knowing aider, abettor, assister,
conspirator, or colluder with others in such an offense; or
• based on the knowledge or reasonable belief of a consular officer or immigration
officer, seeks to enter the United States to engage in espionage, sabotage, export
control violations, unlawful opposition to the government, or other unlawful ²⁹
activity.
Other types of unlawful conduct (which may also be covered under criminal grounds) precluding
admission include terrorist activities, alien smuggling (with limited exception), immigration
document fraud, illegal entry into the United States, unlawful voting, international abduction of a
child who is a U.S. citizen, participation in genocide, recruitment of child soldiers, and severe
violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign government official.
Various criminal grounds for inadmissibility are, by their own terms, subject to exception. For
example, the crime of moral turpitude category does not cover certain juvenile or minor ³⁰
offenses. Further, even if a crime is covered, most criminal grounds for inadmissibility may
nevertheless be waived in a number of circumstances. Authority to waive certain criminal ³¹
grounds of inadmissibility is contained in INA § 212(h). Criminal grounds for inadmissibility
that may be waived are
• crimes involving moral turpitude;
• a single offense of simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana;
• multiple convictions for which at least five year’s imprisonment was imposed;
• prostitution or other unlawful commercialized vices; and
• serious criminal activity for which the alien has asserted immunity.

²⁹^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^a⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^a⁾^.
³⁰^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾⁽ⁱⁱ⁾^{; 8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}¹⁸²⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾⁽ⁱⁱ⁾^.
³¹^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}¹⁸²⁽^h⁾^.

INA § 212(h)(1) establishes that relevant immigration officials have discretion to waive a
designation of inadmissibility on account of the foregoing conduct if four requirements are met.
These requirements are that
• the alien is seeking admission as an LPR;
• the conduct making the alien inadmissible either involved prostitution or another
unlawful commercial vice or, in the case of other criminal conduct, occurred
more than 15 years before the date of the alien’s application for a visa, entry or
adjustment of status;
• the alien’s admission into the United States would not be contrary to the national
welfare, safety, or security of the United States; and
• the alien has been rehabilitated.³²
An additional waiver is available for immediate family members under INA § 212(h)(1)(B) if
• the alien is seeking admission as an LPR;
• the alien is the spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a U.S. citizen or LPR; and
• denial of admission would cause extreme hardship to the United States citizen or ³³
lawfully resident spouse, parent, son, or daughter.
A further circumstance where a waiver is available for inadmissible criminal conduct involves
alien spouses or children of U.S. citizens or LPRs, when those aliens have been battered or ³⁴
subjected to extreme cruelty by the citizen or LPR.
Certain aliens are barred from consideration for § 212(h) waivers. No waiver is permitted for
aliens who have been convicted of murder or criminal acts involving torture, as well as attempts ³⁵
or conspiracies to commit murder or a criminal act involving torture. Further, a waiver under §
212(h) is not available in the case of an alien who has previously been admitted to the United
States as an LPR if either (1) since the date of such admission the alien has been convicted of an
aggravated felony or (2) the alien has not lawfully resided continuously in the United States for at
least seven years immediately preceding the date of initiation of proceedings to remove the alien ³⁶
from the United States.
In addition to § 212(h) waivers, criminal grounds may be waived for aliens seeking temporary ³⁷
admission as nonimmigrants, such as those seeking to enter the United States as tourists. Also,
certain permanent residents may seek waivers through cancellation of removal, which will be ³⁸
discussed later.

³²^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^h)⁽¹⁾⁽^A⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^h)⁽¹⁾⁽^A⁾^.
³³⁸^U.S^.^C.^§¹¹⁸²^(h⁾⁽¹^)(B).
³⁴^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^h)⁽¹⁾⁽^C⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^h)⁽¹⁾⁽^C⁾^.
³⁵^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}¹⁸²⁽^h⁾^.
³⁶^Id^.
³⁷^I^N^A^{§ 212(}^d)⁽³⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁸²⁽^d⁾⁽³⁾^.
³⁸^Se^e^infr^a^at¹²^-13^.

The criminal grounds for deportation cover both broad categories and specific crimes. Among
those deportable on criminal grounds is any alien who
• is convicted of a single crime involving moral turpitude that was committed
within five years of admission and that is punishable by imprisonment of at least
one year;
• is convicted of two or more crimes involving moral turpitude not arising from a
single scheme of misconduct;
• is convicted of an aggravated felony at any time after admission into the United
States;
• is convicted of failing to register as a sex offender;
• is convicted after admission of any violation of a federal, state, or foreign law or
regulation relating to a controlled substance (other than a single offense for
possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana for personal use);
• is, or at any time after admission has been, a drug abuser or drug addict;
• is convicted at any time after admission of an offense related to a firearm or
destructive device (including unlawful commerce relating to, possession, or use
of a firearm or destructive device);
• is convicted at any time of an offense related to espionage, sabotage, or treason
or sedition, if the offense is punishable by imprisonment of five years or more;
• is convicted of an offense under the Military Selective Service Act or the Trading
with the Enemy Act;
• is convicted of an offense under 18 U.S.C. § 758 (high-speed flight from an
immigration checkpoint);
• is convicted of an offense related to launching an expedition against a country
with which the United States is at peace;
• is convicted of threatening by mail the President, Vice President, or other officer
in the line of presidential succession;
• is convicted at any time after entry of a crime of domestic violence, stalking,
child abuse, child neglect, or child abandonment;
• violates a protection order related to violence or harassment; or
• is described in the ground for inadmissibility relating to human trafficking ³⁹
offenses.

³⁹^I^N^A^{§ 237(}^a⁾⁽²⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²²⁷⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾^.

Crimes involving moral turpitude, aggravated felonies, and high-speed flight from an
immigration checkpoint may all be automatically waived as grounds for deportation upon the ⁴⁰
alien receiving a full and unconditional pardon by the President or governor. Cancellation of
removal as a form of discretionary relief, which is discussed below, and § 212(h) waivers of
inadmissibility, which are discussed above, may also be relevant in deportation cases.
In addition to providing for discretionary waivers, the INA provides designated immigration
authorities with the power to grant an alien asylum, cancel removal proceedings against him,
permit his voluntary departure from the United States, or adjust the alien’s status under registry
provisions. However, authority to grant these remedies is circumscribed with respect to certain
types of criminal aliens.
Although asylum is a discretionary remedy for aliens who face persecution, it is unavailable to an
alien who (1) “[h]aving been convicted ... of a particularly serious crime” (including an ⁴¹
aggravated felony or an offense designated by the Attorney General as “particularly serious”),
constitutes a danger to the community;” or (2) is reasonably believed to have committed a serious
nonpolitical offense outside the United States (including such offenses as may be designated by ⁴²
the Attorney General). P.L. 110-340 requires the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland
Security to promulgate regulations establishing that persons inadmissible or deportable on
account of recruiting child soldiers in violation of federal law have committed a serious
nonpolitical crime making them ineligible for asylum. Further, an alien who is involved in
specified terrorist activities, is a danger to national security, or has engaged in persecution of any
person on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular ⁴³
social group is also ineligible for asylum.
Apart from asylum is the separate remedy of withholding of removal. Like asylum, withholding
of removal is premised upon a showing of prospective persecution of an alien if removed to a ⁴⁴
particular country. Withholding of removal differs from asylum in (1) requiring a higher
standard of proof; (2) limiting relief to the claimant (as opposed to also including the claimant’s
spouse and minor children); (3) failing to allow for adjustment to LPR status; and (4) being a
mandatory rather than discretionary form of relief for qualifying aliens. Although the remedy of

⁴⁰
^I^N^A^{§ 237(}^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾⁽^v⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}²²⁷⁽^a⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾⁽^v⁾^.
⁴¹^For^pur^pos^e^s^of^§²⁰^{8, a}ⁿ^a^lie^{n w}^ho^ha^s^be^eⁿ^c^o^nv^ic^te^{d of}^aⁿ^a^g^g^r^a^v^a^t^e^d^f^e^lon^y^is^c^ons^ide^r^e^d^t^o^ha^v^e^be^eⁿ^c^o^nv^ic^te^d
^of^a^pa^r^tic^ula^r^ly^s^e^rⁱ^ous^c^r^im^e^.^I^N^A^{§ 208(}^b)⁽²⁾⁽^B⁾⁽ⁱ⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁵⁸⁽^b⁾⁽²⁾⁽^B⁾⁽ⁱ⁾^.
⁴²^I^N^A^{§ 208(}^b)⁽²⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁵⁸⁽^b⁾⁽²⁾^.
⁴³^I^N^A^{§ 208(}^b)⁽²⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹¹⁵⁸⁽^b⁾⁽²⁾^.
⁴⁴^Se^e^I^N^A^{§ 24}¹⁽^b)⁽³⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²³¹⁽^b)⁽³⁾^.^S^{ee a}^l^s^o⁸^C^.^F.R^.^§²^08.^16.

withholding is stated in mandatory terms, otherwise eligible aliens are, with limited exception, ⁴⁵
disqualified under criminal grounds similar to those that apply to asylum. The primary
difference, however, is that not all aggravated felonies automatically bar withholding of removal.
Instead, relief is barred only if the alien has been convicted of one or more aggravated felonies for ⁴⁶
which the aggregate sentence imposed was five years or more.
In 1996, the INA was amended to combine two types of discretionary relief for long-term alien
residents—“§ 212(c)” relief for LPRs who had resided in the U.S. for an extended period and
suspension of deportation for other long-term aliens—into a new remedy called cancellation of
removal. Cancellation of removal, in turn, maintains some of the distinctions that appeared under
the forms of relief that preceded it.
Under provisions corresponding with earlier INA provisions concerning suspension of
deportation, the Attorney General may cancel the removal of certain otherwise inadmissible or
deportable non-LPRs if they have been in the United States continuously for at least 10 years and
their removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship for immediate family ⁴⁷
members. However, certain criminal activity makes an alien ineligible for cancellation of
removal despite whatever roots the alien has established in the United States. Disqualifying
criminal activity includes convictions of crimes that preclude a finding of good moral character ⁴⁸
and crimes that fall within the criminal grounds for inadmissibility or deportation. Civil ⁴⁹
immigration document fraud also precludes relief. Additionally, “continuous residence” for
purposes of qualifying for relief stops on the commission of an offense that would render the alien ⁵⁰
inadmissible.
Under provisions that correspond to relief previously available under INA § 212(c), the Attorney
General may cancel the removal of an alien who has been an LPR for at least five years, if the
alien has resided in the United States continuously for at least seven years and has not been ⁵¹
convicted of an aggravated felony. Further, “continuous residence” for purposes of qualifying ⁵²
for relief stops upon the commission of an offense that would render the alien inadmissible.
Through a grant of voluntary departure, an otherwise deportable alien may depart the United
States without the stigma and legal consequences that would attach to a compulsory removal

⁴⁵^I^N^A^{§ 241(}^b)⁽³⁾⁽^B⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²³¹⁽^b)⁽³⁾⁽^B⁾^.^H^o^w^e^v^e^r^,^unde^r^r^e^g^u^la^tions^im^ple^m^eⁿ^ting^the^Uⁿ^ite^{d N}^a^tio^ns
^Conv^eⁿ^tio^{n A}^g^aⁱ^ns^{t T}^o^rture^,ⁿ^o^a^lie^{n is}^pe^rm^itte^{d be}^re^m^o^v^e^{d to a}^c^ountry^w^h^eⁿ^{it is}^m^o^re^lik^e^l^y^thaⁿⁿ^o^{t t}^h^a^t^he
^w^o^u^l^d^f^{ace t}^o^rt^u^r^{e t}^h^ere,^regard^l^e^{ss o}^f^w^h^et^h^e^{r h}^e^o^r^sh^{e w}^o^u^l^{d b}^e^o^t^h^e^rwⁱ^s^{e i}ⁿ^elⁱ^gⁱ^b^l^e^f^o^{r w}ⁱ^t^hhol^di^ng^of^r^e^m^o^v^a^{l. 8}
^C^.^F.R^.^{§§ 20}^8.^16-^18,¹²⁰⁸^.1^6-¹⁸^.
⁴⁶^I^N^A^{§ 241(}^b)⁽³⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²³¹⁽^b⁾⁽³⁾^.
⁴⁷^I^N^A^{§ 240A}⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²^29b⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾^.
⁴⁸^INA^§^§²⁴⁰^A^(b⁾⁽¹^)(B)-(C);⁸^U.^{S.C. §}^§¹²²⁹^b⁽^b⁾⁽¹^)(B)-(C).
⁴⁹^I^N^A^{§ 240A}⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾⁽^C⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²²⁹^b(^b)⁽¹⁾⁽^C⁾^.
⁵⁰^I^N^A^{§ 240A}⁽^d⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}²²⁹^b⁽^d⁾^.
⁵¹^I^N^A^{§ 240A}⁽^a⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^{§ 1}²²⁹^b⁽^a⁾^.
⁵²^I^N^A^{§ 240A}⁽^d⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^{§ 1}²²⁹^b⁽^d⁾^.

order. There are two standards for voluntary departure, depending on whether permission to leave
voluntarily is sought before or after removal proceedings against the alien are completed. If
voluntary departure is sought before proceedings are initiated (e.g., upon the alien being arrested
by an immigration enforcement officer) or completed, the only criminal disqualification is for ⁵³
conviction of an aggravated felony (terrorist activities are also disqualifying). If voluntary
departure is sought after removal proceedings are completed, the alien must not have been
convicted of an aggravated felony and must also have been a person of good moral character for ⁵⁴
at least five years preceding.
In order to qualify for asylum or withholding of removal, an alien must show that he or she would
personally face persecution. Aliens whose lives have been disrupted by generalized violence or
natural disaster may not qualify on that basis alone. However, the INA permits temporary haven ⁵⁵
for nationals of countries that have been designated as experiencing widespread upheaval. At
the same time, relief is granted on an individual basis, and an otherwise eligible alien shall be
denied protection if he or she is inadmissible on criminal grounds related to (1) crimes involving
moral turpitude, (2) multiple criminal convictions, (3) or drug offenses (other than a single ⁵⁶
offense for possessing 30 grams or less of marijuana). Additional, overlapping categories of
aliens who are disqualified from receiving temporary protected status are those who (1) have been
convicted of one felony or two or more misdemeanors in the United States or (2) who would be ⁵⁷
disqualified from asylum due to criminal conduct.
Under certain circumstances, an alien with nonimmigrant status may adjust to LPR status.⁵⁸
Certain aliens without legal status may also adjust if they had a preference petition or labor
certification application filed on their behalf as of April 30, 2001, or under certain other ⁵⁹
circumstances. Otherwise eligible aliens are barred from adjustment if they are inadmissible,
including those who are inadmissible on criminal grounds.
The INA has long contained authority for the adjustment to LPR status for aliens who have lived ⁶⁰
in the United States for an extended period. Known as the registry provision, this authority now

⁵³^I^N^A^{§ 240B}⁽^a⁾⁽¹⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²^29c⁽^a⁾⁽¹⁾^.
⁵⁴^I^N^A^{§ 240B}⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾^;⁸^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²^29c⁽^b⁾⁽¹⁾^.
⁵⁵^IN^A^{§ 244}^{; 8}^U^.^S.C.^§¹²^54a^.^Fo^{r f}^u^rthe^{r ba}^c^k^g^r^ound^oⁿ^t^h^e^a^v^a^ilability^of^tem^pora^r^y^prote^c^t^e^d^s^t^a^t^us^f^o^{r c}^e^r^taⁱⁿ
^alien^s^{, see CRS Rep}^o^r^t^RS2⁰⁸⁴⁴^,^Te^m^por^ar^y^Pr^ote^c^t^e^d^St^at^us^:^C^u^r^r^e^{nt I}^m^mⁱ^gr^ati^on^Polic^y^an^{d I}^s^s^u^e^s^{, by}^{Ruth El}^leⁿ
^W^a^s^e^m^an^d^{Karma Ester.}
⁵⁶^I^N^A^{§ 244(}^c⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²⁵^4a⁽^c⁾⁽²⁾⁽^A⁾^.
⁵⁷^I^N^A^{§ 244(}^c⁾⁽²⁾⁽^B⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S^.^C^.^§¹^254a⁽^c⁾⁽²⁾⁽^B⁾^.
⁵⁸^I^N^A^{§ 245}^{; 8}^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²⁵⁵^.^Se^e^ge^ne^r^a^lly^C^R^S^R^e^por^t^R^L³²²^35,^U^.^{S. I}^m^mⁱ^gr^ati^{on P}^o^lic^y^oⁿ^Pe^r^m^ane^nt
^Ad^missioⁿ^s^{, by}^Ruth^Elle^{n W}^a^se^m^.
⁵⁹^I^N^A^{§ 245(}ⁱ⁾⁽¹⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹²⁵⁵⁽ⁱ⁾⁽¹⁾^.
⁶⁰^A^m^o^r^e^de^ta^ile^{d e}^x^plaⁿ^a^tion^oⁿ^t^h^e^r^e^gⁱ^s^t^r^y^pr^ov^is^{ion c}^aⁿ^be^f^o^uⁿ^dⁱⁿ^C^R^S^R^e^p^o^r^t^R^L³⁰⁵⁷^8,^I^m^mⁱ^gr^ati^on:^Re^gis^t^r^y
^as^M^e^ans^of^O^b^t^aⁱⁿⁱⁿ^{g L}^a^w^f^ul^Pe^r^m^ane^{nt Re}^sⁱ^de^nc^e^{, by}^A^ndor^r^a^B^r^un^o.

allows for the adjustment of aliens who have lived in the United States since before 1972.⁶¹
However, aliens who are inadmissible on criminal grounds are ineligible for adjustment, as are ⁶²
aliens who lack good moral character.
An essential requirement for becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization is that the applicant ⁶³
establish that he or she has been, and continues to be, a person of good moral character. An LPR
seeking naturalization is required to maintain good moral character for at least five years
preceding his or her application for naturalization; five years being the minimum period of time
that a person lawfully admitted into the United States must continuously reside in the country ⁶⁴
before applying for naturalization.
As discussed previously, certain criminal acts may disqualify an alien from being found to ⁶⁵
possess good moral character. Pursuant to INA § 101(f), certain listed categories of criminal
conduct automatically preclude an alien from being found to possess good moral character. This
listing is not exclusive, and other conduct—criminal or otherwise—may also prevent a finding of
good moral character, including crimes that occur before the statutory period requiring “good
moral character” actually begins. For a more detailed discussion of the crimes that preclude a
finding of good moral character, refer to the section of this report entitled Crimes Affecting
Assessment of Good Moral Character.

In recent years, numerous proposals have been introduced to modify the immigration ^th
consequences of criminal activity. The 110 Congress enacted several such measures, including
P.L. 110-257, providing certain relief from inadmissibility to members of the African National
Congress; P.L. 110-340, making persons who have engaged in the recruitment of child soldiers in
violation of federal law inadmissible, deportable and ineligible for asylum or withholding of
removal; and P.L. 110-457, modifying the grounds for inadmissibility and removal related to
human trafficking.
It is possible that proposals will be introduced in the 111^th Congress to further modify the
immigration consequences of criminal activity. Proposals made in recent years that have received
legislative action or significant congressional interest include measures that would:
• add further document-fraud offenses to the list of criminal activities making
aliens inadmissible and/or deportable;
• make gang-related activity a ground for inadmissibility, deportation, and
ineligibility from certain forms of relief from removal;

⁶¹^I^N^A^{§ 249}^{; 8}^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²⁵⁹^.
⁶²^I^N^A^{§ 249}^{; 8}^U^.^S.C^.^§¹²⁵⁹^.
⁶³^I^N^A^{§ 316}^{; 8}^U^.^S.C^.^§¹⁴²⁷^.
⁶⁴^I^N^A^{§ 316(}^a⁾^;^{8 U}^.^S.C^.^§¹⁴²⁷⁽^a⁾^.
⁶⁵^Se^e^s^upr^a^a^t^5-^7.

• make DUI offenses a ground for inadmissibility or deportation; and
• specify that an aggravated felony conviction is a ground for inadmissibility.⁶⁶
^Yu^{le Ki}^m ^Mich^{ael J}^o^hⁿ^Garcia
^L^e^gⁱ^s^l^at^iv^{e A}^t^torn^e^y^L^e^gⁱ^s^l^at^iv^{e A}^t^torn^e^y
^y^kⁱ^m^@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,^7-⁹¹³⁸^m^g^arci^a^@^crs^.^l^o^c.g^o^v^,^7-³⁸⁷³

⁶⁶^S^ee,^e.^g^.^,^S.¹³⁴⁸^,^S^.¹⁶³⁹^{, S.A}^m^{dt. 11}^{50 to S. 13}^48,¹¹⁰^th^C^ong^.;^H^ous^e^-^pa^s^s^e^{d H}^.^R^.⁴⁴^37,^Se^na^te^-^p^a^s^s^e^{d S.}²⁶^11,
¹⁰⁹^th^Co^ng^.