As discussed in another lesson, there are different criminal grounds of deportability. This lesson will discuss specific issues concerning such grounds based on criminal convictions, as well as some common noncriminal grounds of deportability.

I. INA’s Definitions of “Conviction” and “Sentence”

The INA defines a “conviction” differently than most other areas of the law. Under the INA, convictions include not only traditional judgments of convictions, but also proceedings in which a formal...