What Are Crimes of Moral Turpitude?
Immigrants facing removal proceedings may be accused of committing a crime involving moral turpitude, or CIMT, by U.S.C.I.S. On the government’s website, it actually says “CIMT is a term used in the immigration context that has no statutory definition…[however] The courts have held that moral turpitude ‘refers generally to conduct that shocks the public conscience as being inherently base, vile, or depraved, contrary to the rules of morality and the duties owed between man and man, either one’s fellow man or society in general.’”
This means that the court have a lot of leeway when they make decisions about removal, because this is a subjective concept. There are certain crimes, however, which are generally considered to be CIMTs by courts in Tennessee and throughout the country. They include:
- Smuggling
- Drug charges
- Assault
- Fraud
- Theft
- Crimes of a sexual nature, including sexual assault or prostitution
- Bribery
- Counterfeiting
- Polygamy
- Alcoholism
- Perjury/false testimony under oath
- Failure to support your children
- Adultery
- Gambling offenses
Because good moral character (GMC) is one of the requirements for citizenship in the U.S., criminal convictions of any level can put you at risk of deportation/removal. Certain charges – Murder, Aggravated Felony, and Persecution, Genocide, Torture, or Severe Violations of Religious Freedom are automatic bars to GMC. If you are charged with any of these, let alone convicted of those charges, you can be removed immediately.
Some criminal charges may not be held against you when it comes to citizenship, but they can still be held against you during removal proceedings. If, for example, you have always obeyed the laws but one night you have too much to drink and you get pulled over for a DUI, you could be at risk of removal. In fact, driving under the influence has been an ICE priority for non-citizen immigrants since 2014. If you are charged with a CIMT or a DUI, Nashville immigration attorney Perry A. Craft can help you, as he has an extensive background in criminal defense to work for you.
When you are facing removal because of a CIMT, don’t wait seek out help. Contact the Law Office of Perry A. Craft, PLLC, to find out what your rights are. Work with a skilled Nashville immigration attorney to ensure that those rights are upheld.
Perry A. Craft has dedicated his life to helping people in need. He has tried, settled, or resolved numerous civil and criminal cases in State and Federal courts, and has represented teachers and administrators before school boards, administrative judges, and the state Board of Education. Learn more about Attorney Craft.