Are illegal immigrants considered felons?

Question

What is their "technical" legal status?

Maniaka:
Yes, I am aware they are called illegal, but speeding and murder are both illegal as well. One is a misdemeanor "lesser crime" and one is a felony "high crime". I desire to know what classification " illegal immigrants" fall into.

Yoda:
Not really, maybe I should have re-phrased the question to read " Is illegal immigation a felony or misdemeanor " . Dose this clear it up?

claudiacake:
You are truly a breath of fresh air, thank you.

Lori K:
Thank you, that's great info.

Answer 1

No its not a crime to be in the US illegaly its a civil matter.

Answer 2

It truly doesn't matter if it's a felony, misdemeanor, or "civil infraction".

It is a CRIME.

Anyone illegal alien apprehended is subject to deportation. Repeated offenses can result in denial of LEGAL entry into the United States for a number of years.

Illegal aliens in the United States have no "quick path to citizenship".

The only way to become a citizen is to return to their country of origin and apply legally. You CANNOT become a citizen or apply for legal residency in the United States while in an illegal status in the United States.

Their "technical" legal status is that they are ILLEGAL. And the SMART thing to do, if they ever hope to become LEGAL immigrants or U.S. citizens is to go home to their country and get in line BEHIND those already legally applying to immigrate.

This is infinitely more important than any definition or "technical" legal status BS..

That's the REAL breath of fresh air. Facts that actually MEAN something.

Answer 3

We should be more concerned about the fact that it IS a crime than the definition. Does it really matter??

Whether or not it's classified as a felony or not, at this time, they are not going to be thrown in prison...but they can and WILL be deported. And for repeated offenses, they can and WILL be denied legal entry into the U.S.


This is the kind of information that needs to get out to everybody to encourage people to immigrate LEGALLY!!!!

There is no "quick path to citizenship" for illegal alien criminals. The only way to become a citizen is from their applying legally...from their country, NOT OURS.

All countries have immigration laws.
All countries enforce them.

That's all that matters.

Answer 4

Are illegal aliens working under false identities felons?

Answer 5

i ponder whether there are to any extent further American patriots left. And via patriots, I mean people who think of of 4th of July as a date it rather is greater significant than a occasion and a few fireworks. Patriots who bear in mind the plaque on the backside of the Statue of Liberty, which reads: supply me your drained, your poor, Your huddled hundreds yearning to respire unfastened, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. deliver those, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: I raise my lamp beside the golden door. Patriots who're no longer petrified of the american gadget, Patriots that are so confident of their u . s . they comprehend that it could artwork for 2.5 Million human beings (the kind of human beings in 1776), and it quite works only besides for 330 million human beings in 2008. Or has patriotism been given over to concern? Have human beings grow to be greater all in favour of keeping their very own particularly of selling the authentic values of usa? i'm searching for a patriot! somebody! all and sundry! the place have all the patriots long gone?!

Answer 6

Not yet!. Anti-immigrants groups are lobbying congress so they pass a law that make illegal aliens felons. Some states like AZ and MA do consider them felons.

The status is simply "illegal". Meaning they have no right to collect or receive any govenment help or benefits.

Answer 7

Once you are caught illegally in the country you are deported. If they catch you again you can be barred from ever coming legally.

It is not a felony and is really not even criminal. Unless you have been deported before the only thing that will happen is deportation. It is the multiple offenders that get into doo doo.

Answer 8

If they have returned after being deported they are, otherwise illegal crossing is a misdemeanor and illegal presence is usually an administrative civil infraction justifying removal. It has been handled administratively because it is a lot cheaper than the whole pay-for-their-attorney-and-criminal-due-process bit of a criminal action.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/17/AR2006061700455.html

Answer 9

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act illegal entry into the US constitutes a misdemeanor for first-time offenders, while persons who have been shown to repeatedly enter the US can be charged as felonys. Entering the US for seasonal employment without proper government authorization is also normally classified as illegal immigration, even when the individual plans to return to their country of origin when their employment ends.

"In March 2006 the Pew Hispanic Center estimated the undocumented population ranged from 11.5 to 12 million individuals[1], a number supported by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO)[2]. Pew estimated that 57% of this population comes from Mexico; 24% from Central America and, to a lesser extent, South America; 9% from Asia; 6% from Europe, and the remaining 4% from elsewhere.[3]"......Wiki.

Scary, isn't it?

Answer 10

Illegal presence in the US is not a felony. For example a person who doesn't leave the country when their tourist visa expires is considered an illegal alien, but they have not committed a felony.

Answer 11

Illegal entry is not usually considered a felony so they would not be felons unless they committed a felony crime while they were here illegally. Confusing huh?