Non-naturalized aliens and permanent residents face a different set of challenges when charged with a criminal offense. In recent times, just being charged with certain offenses can land a non-citizen in jail.
If a non-naturalized alien or permanent resident is convicted of certain crimes, they can be deported. Under immigration law, those crimes are defined as being an aggravated felony or a crime of moral turpitude may face mandatory deportation. Many times, people who haven’t been naturalized and are facing criminal charges are surprised to learn that something that seems minor could end up being the reason they are deported from the United States. When fighting charges, a person who is not a citizen of the United States needs to ensure that their attorney has up-to-date knowledge of what the immigration consequences of the case may be.
An issue that is relatively recent is the question of whether a person can lose their citizenship or be denaturalized after they have been convicted of a crime. As of the date that this post was written, a person generally will not be denaturalized for a conviction unless that conviction involved becoming a citizen fraudulently, committed treason, or otherwise gave comfort or otherwise aided an enemy of the United States.