Abstract
Recent statutory changes to the United States immigration law have resulted in a large increase in the number of lawful permanent resident noncitizens who are deported because of prior criminal conduct. Now, deportation is often a virtually automatic consequence of conviction for an increasingly minor array of crimes including possessory drug offenses and shoplifting. Under current statutory law, permanent resident noncitizens may be deported for crimes that were not grounds for deportation when they were committed and there may be no possibiilty of mercy or humanitarian relief. This Dialogue explores arguments for and against this system. Specifically, it examines the idea, rooted in history, that deportation is an unconstitutional punishment for criminal offenses.
Files
Metadata
- Subject
Criminal Law
Immigration Law
International Law
Law and Society
Law Enforcement and Corrections
Legal Writing and Research
Legislation
Politics
- Journal title
Boston College Law Review
- Volume
41
- Pagination
771-788
- Date submitted
6 September 2022
- Keywords