You worked hard to get your green card and become a lawful permanent resident here in the United States. Unfortunately, you were also recently charged with a DUI. Many lawful permanent residents who find themselves facing these charges wonder if they can impact their immigration status. Please continue reading and reach out to a dedicated Allegheny County DUI lawyer from the Law Offices of George Heym to learn more about whether a DUI can affect your immigration status and how our firm can help protect you. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Will a DUI affect my immigration status in the United States?
To start, the answer to this question depends largely on the circumstances of your DUI. In many cases, a DUI alone won’t constitute the revocation of your green card or your deportation from the United States, however, it could very well land you in immigration court.
Once you’re in immigration court, it will be up to the judge to determine whether you committed a crime of “moral turpitude,” which is the standard by which immigration judges determine whether a person should be deported from the country.
What is a crime of moral turpitude?
There are several misdemeanor and felony crimes that courts in the U.S. tend to consider crimes of moral turpitude. Some of those crimes include murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, child abuse, and more. Typically, a DUI by itself isn’t considered a crime of moral turpitude, but there are certain aggravating factors that may raise your crime to the level of moral turpitude.
Just some examples of aggravating factors that may warrant raising a DUI to the level of a crime of moral turpitude include the following:
- You were driving with a suspended driver’s license at the time of your arrest.
- There were children present in the vehicle at the time of your DUI arrest.
- Another person was injured or killed in an accident you caused due to driving while intoxicated.
Regardless of whether your specific offense falls into any of these categories, if you’re accused of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is of paramount importance that you retain the services of a seasoned DUI attorney who can fight your charges at every turn. Even if a DUI doesn’t result in your deportation from the country, you’ll likely still face high fines, a driver’s license suspension, jail time, and more. The Law Offices of George Heym is here to fight for you and your future, every step of the way.
