Can a Naturalized Citizen Be Deported?

With the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the topic of immigration has become more sensitive than ever, with President Trump promising to deport those who are in the country illegally. For those who are naturalized citizens or who are seeking naturalization, a serious question is this: can a naturalized citizen be deported?

What Is a Naturalized Citizen?

As explained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, naturalization is the process by which a foreign citizen becomes a citizen of the United States. The foreigner becomes a citizen by fulfilling certain requirements set forth by the Immigration and Nationality Act, including taking a naturalization test (civics and English language) and filing a form N-400.

Can a Naturalized Citizen Be Deported?

A naturalized citizen lives within the United States legally, and has all of the same rights as other citizens, including the right to vote, work, etc. As such, a naturalized citizen cannot be deported by virtue of the fact that they are originally from a different country. What’s more, a naturalized citizen cannot be deported even if they commit a crime; in fact, a person can only be deported if their citizenship is revoked via a process called de-naturalization.

What Is De-naturalization?

Your naturalization can be revoked when it is discovered that the naturalization was secured in an illegal manner, if you refuse to testify before Congress, if you are dishonorably discharged from the military, or if you join certain groups, such as a terrorist organization.

In today’s world, your rights as a person who was not born in the United States may be confusing, and you may be worried about potential deportation. However, if you are a naturalized citizen, you cannot be deported unless your citizenship is revoked. Clearly the current atmosphere has caused stress and worry for many individuals, their friends and family regardless of their status.

Many of us have seen the stories of tearful families being ripped apart, but in those cases, the individuals involved are not naturalized citizens. Understandably, it is still a troubling situation that seems to be ever-changing so it is important to keep up-to-date on the most recent news.

Working with an Experienced Immigration Attorney

If you have questions about naturalization/de-naturalization or deportation, contact our experienced attorneys at the law offices of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC today for a free consultation. There is no obligation and we only collect a fee if we win your case.