So now, to reduce my wife's green card sponsorship period, I am planning to apply for citizenship.

However, after hearing about the deportation of U.S. green card holders for crimes, I searched for "grounds for deportation of green card holders"...

"Wait, can you really be deported for something like this?"

That's right. Living as a green card holder in the U.S. means you have to live much more 'cautiously' than you might think.

U.S. citizens can commit crimes and just spend time in jail, but green card holders can be sent out of the country depending on the situation.

And importantly, this does not only apply to serious crimes like 'murder or robbery'.

Surprisingly minor mistakes or things that make you think "Could this also be a reason?" can lead to deportation.

So, what are the risks? Let's take a look.

Drug-related crimes
Even possession or use of a small amount can lead to almost 'immediate removal'. Especially marijuana. While there are states like California and Colorado where it is legal, it is not 'legal' under immigration law. Even just working in a field related to marijuana can lead to serious issues or require hiring a lawyer to fight against deportation risks. "I didn't sell drugs" won't work. > Related link

Theft, Burglary, Fraud
Getting caught stealing something from a store may not just end as a 'misdemeanor'. Crimes that fall under the category of 'Moral Turpitude' can be problematic in immigration proceedings. Especially if you are in the process of applying for citizenship, it is said to be almost 100% denied.

Domestic Violence, Stalking, Threats
Arguments between partners that escalate to police involvement are more common than you might think. The problem is that this is not just a simple incident; it can be classified as a 'violent crime' that can lead to deportation. So... keep arguments to text messages only, haha.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
One time might be excusable (though you should be careful depending on your record; legal advice is needed), but more than once is serious. Especially if you are unlicensed or if there is injury involved, deportation proceedings can start immediately. And if you have a DUI record during the citizenship application process, it is almost automatically rejected. In the U.S., "driving under the influence" is seen as "a hostile act that threatens the public".

And in the past, there was a perception that "once you get citizenship, you're safe". These days, that's not the case either.

In recent years, the U.S. government has been canceling the nationality of people who have already obtained citizenship for reasons like 'ineligibility for naturalization'. If past crimes or false information, or issues like dual nationality or status problems during the green card application are revealed later... it can really be 'terrifying'. It might even be scarier than the IRS.

So what should you do?

Just avoid actions that could be problematic. The moment you think, "Oh, this should be fine", that becomes a record... and it will come back to bite you during the citizenship application.

Records last for over 5 years. Criminal records, arrest records, and false statements on immigration applications can become significant issues later.

And don't skimp on consulting an immigration lawyer. Especially before applying for citizenship, it's best to find an immigration specialist who can accurately organize your records.

Honestly, I used to joke about marijuana with my friends back in the day. If someone had said, "Hey, this is a violation of immigration law", I would have been more careful. Now, I even have to be cautious when going out for drinks, and I get nervous whenever a police car is nearby while driving.

Green card holder? That is definitely not an 'eternal right'.

It's truly 'conditional'.

Until the day you become a U.S. citizen, or perhaps even after that, it seems like you have to live like a 'real American' to stay in this country for a long time.

To all the green card holders reading this, let's always be careful.