As a San Diego immigration lawyer, I have seen how criminal convictions can shatter the dreams and hopes of immigrant families.

Many times the criminal offenses were minor, non-violent offenses.

Under immigration law, even such low level wrongdoings can result in deportation, the harshest of immigration punishments.

When criminal offenses are deemed minor under state law, they are classified as misdemeanors. Most immigrant defendants assume such convictions will not bar them from living in the United States.

Their perceptions are not unreasonable.

Yet, under immigration law, many of these convictions are considered immigration felonies.