There are many issues that can have an impact on a person’s immigration status. One of the most serious issues is criminal charges that involve crimes of moral turpitude (CMT). These types of crimes are those that are associated with an individual’s moral character and can result in an immigrant’s deportation. If you have been charged with a CMT, it is important to contact an experienced DuPage County immigration lawyer immediately.

What Are Crimes of Moral Turpitude?

There are a number of offenses that can be defined as crimes of moral turpitude; however, the one factor that all of these crimes have in common is that they involve morally reprehensible behavior or conduct. These crimes usually involve fraud, theft, violence, or other acts that reveal a lack of moral character on the part of the accused offender.

There are two main groups of CMTs:

Earlier this month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began sending text messages and emails to migrants who are eligible to apply for work authorization permits. The notifications are only for certain immigrants who meet the required stipulations. The following is a brief overview of the program. If you have received a message from USCIS or are unsure if you qualify, contact an Illinois immigration lawyer for legal help.

Work Authorization Notifications

According to announcements issued by the USCIS, electronic notifications were sent to those immigrants seeking asylum, as well as a parole authority program put in place by the Biden administration. Those notified include the approximately 200,000 migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who were allowed to fly into the U.S. and migrants who were allowed to enter the country along the southern border via a federal phone app program. That program has allowed approximately 180,000 migrants into the country. Both of these programs allow immigrants to live and work in the United States for two years.

One issue that the administration did not anticipate is that many of these migrants – who are eligible to apply for work permits – have not done so. This is contributing to several major cities attempting to meet the housing, medical care, and other financial needs of immigrants who have settled in their cities.

Leaving your home country and resettling in a new country can be a difficult process. You may struggle to adjust to life in the United States while working and supporting your family. To make matters worse, there are some situations where you may face deportation based on claims that you have violated immigration laws or remained in the United States illegally. As you look at your options for defending against deportation, you may want to consider whether voluntary departure would be the best choice for you. An immigration attorney can help you determine the best way to proceed.

What Is Voluntary Departure?

Voluntary departure may be an option if you are involved in removal proceedings. You may seek to leave the United States and return to your own country rather than being forced to leave by immigration officials. If your request for voluntary departure is granted, you will be able to leave the country on your own terms, although you will also be required to pay for your own travel expenses.

A request for voluntary departure can be made at the beginning of a deportation case or after a formal notice of removal is issued. In general, your request will be more likely to be granted if it is made at the beginning of your case. If you wait until after a deportation order is issued, receiving permission for voluntary departure may be more difficult.

The U.S. government’s immigration policies have changed significantly in recent months. The administration of President Joe Biden has put measures in place that are meant to reduce illegal immigration and ensure that people who are seeking to enter the United States can do so in a safe, orderly fashion. While these policies have seemed to have positive effects, reducing the number of people who have attempted to enter the U.S. without authorization, they have also come under fire by advocates for human rights. These advocates recently scored a victory when a federal judge blocked a key provision in the Biden administration’s asylum policy.

Changes to Policies Affecting Eligibility for Asylum

Under the Biden administration’s policy, immigrants are encouraged to apply for asylum by scheduling an appointment with immigration officials through a smartphone app, and they must do so before attempting to enter the United States. To help ensure that people use the proper channels when applying for asylum, the administration has stated that anyone who enters the United States without authorization would become ineligible for asylum.

The judge struck down this provision of the policy, stating that it violated the immigration laws of the United States. Immigrants are allowed to request asylum regardless of how they enter the country, and these laws are meant to provide protection for people who are fleeing persecution or who may be at risk of harm if they were forced to return to their original countries. 

Navigating the immigration process can be overwhelming. For immigrants who are currently living in the United States, it is important to understand what steps they can take to continue on their path toward permanent residence and eventual U.S. citizenship. For many immigrants, one of the most important steps in their immigration journey will involve applying for adjustment of status. By adjusting their status from a non-immigrant who is visiting the United States temporarily to that of a permanent resident, a person can ensure that they and their family will have the opportunity to resettle in the U.S., maintain employment, and in some cases, take steps to bring their family members to live with them. By understanding the eligibility requirements a person will need to meet when applying for adjustment of status, they can begin taking the proper steps to receive a Green Card and continue living in the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident.

Eligibility Requirements for Adjustment of Status

There are numerous requirements that must be met for an immigrant to be able to adjust their status. These include:

• Legal entry - An immigrant must have entered the United States legally. This means they must have arrived with a valid visa or through a recognized humanitarian program, such as refugee status or asylum. They must have been inspected by immigration officials and admitted to the United States or received parole.

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