Legal Question in Immigration Law in North Carolina

Re: foreigns that infrige law in the usa

You asked what can happen to a foreign national that breaks the law while in the U.S.

The initial answer is that foreign nationals are subject to the same laws and most protections as are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If a foreign national is in the country legally and breaks a minor law (for example, most misdemeanors) then the foreign national would be subject to the same penalty that a U.S. citizen or legal resident would be subject to. More often this is the end of the punishment. Though conviction of any crime, even a minor one, could be cause for revocation of a visitor's visa. Meaning they would be under an order to leave the country.

If a foreign national breaks a more substantial law (any felony) or one to which greater significance has been attached then they would also be subject to deportation after serving either most or all of the original sentence. Sometimes this is waived in extraordinary circumstances, or the person is allowed to leave within a certain time frame. In other cases, deputy federal marshals, ICE officers or security contractors are engaged to take persons into custody when released on completion of their criminal sentence. The officers maintain custody while they await a deportation proceeding and then actually accompany the person to be deported where they either watch the plane depart or actually accompany the person to their destination.

Hope that answers your question.

Regards,

Roger