What consequence can a felony conviction have on immigration status?

A felony conviction can significantly impact an individual's immigration status, primarily by leading to deportation and the denial of various immigration benefits. Under U.S. immigration law, specific criminal convictions, including felonies, are categorized as "crimes involving moral turpitude," aggravated felonies, or other serious offenses that can trigger removal proceedings.

When someone is convicted of a felony, it may render them removable from the United States, meaning they could be deported back to their country of origin. Additionally, such convictions often complicate or completely disqualify individuals from obtaining various immigration benefits, such as permanent residency (green cards) or citizenship. Immigration authorities take these criminal convictions seriously, and the implications for an individual’s immigration status can be severe.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of a felony conviction on immigration status; they either diminish the importance of felony convictions or misrepresent the ramifications related to immigration processes.