Empowering Immigrants, Strengthening America
Yes, you can be deported with a green card, because permanent residence is not the same as citizenship. Certain crimes, false statements, or long trips abroad can put that status at risk. Green card holders across Camden County bring their records to DeCosmo Law before a problem becomes a removal case. Every Camden, NJ, immigration lawyer on our team checks those records against immigration law rules governing permanent residents.
What Are the Common Grounds for Deportation?
Federal law lists the reasons a permanent resident can be removed. The main categories are:
- Criminal convictions: Aggravated felonies, drug offenses, firearm crimes, and domestic violence can make you deportable.
- Fraud or misrepresentation: Lying on an immigration form or entering a sham marriage can lead to removal, even years later.
- Immigration violations: Common examples include helping someone enter the country illegally and falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.
- National security concerns: Ties to terrorism or spying can also trigger removal.
A conviction can matter even after the sentence is over, since immigration rules look at the offense itself. Our attorneys compare your exact New Jersey offense with these categories.
Notice to Appear and the New Jersey Immigration Court Backlog
Removal begins when the government issues a Notice to Appear that lists the charges against you. If you are not in custody, your hearings will be in Newark. If ICE holds you, your case usually goes to the Elizabeth Immigration Court instead.
The New Jersey immigration court backlog means a non-detained case can take years to finish, while detained cases move much faster. Each charge must match a ground listed in 8 U.S.C. § 1227, and the government has to prove it with clear and convincing evidence. If you are treated as seeking admission after a trip abroad, the charges come from the inadmissibility grounds in 8 U.S.C. § 1182 instead. In that case, the government must first prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that you should be treated as seeking admission at all.
What Should You Do If ICE Detains You?
ICE detention in South Jersey usually means a trip north, since New Jersey’s two immigration detention centers sit in Elizabeth and Newark. Whether you were detained or got a notice, take these steps:
- Write down your A-number from any paperwork
- Do not sign papers you do not understand
- Gather court and immigration records
- Avoid travel outside the United States
Relatives can find you through ICE’s online detainee locator. Some papers ICE presents, such as a stipulated removal order, can end your case without a hearing.
Can a Long Trip Abroad Put Your Green Card at Risk?
A green card holder who has been gone for more than 180 consecutive days is treated as seeking admission upon return. Officers can then check whether you are inadmissible, which can bring up past issues such as a conviction.
A trip of a year or more can lead officers to argue that you gave up your residence. A reentry permit filed before you leave can help protect your status.
Camden, NJ Immigration Lawyer Help for Green Card Holders
Bring your green card, Notice to Appear, and court papers to your first meeting. DeCosmo Law’s attorneys have the know-how and resources to defend permanent residents facing deportation, and we can meet in English or Spanish. Call our deportation defense attorney team in Camden at (856) 361-2122, or request a consultation online before your next hearing.