What Is the Most Common Reason for Deportation in 2025?

Key Takeaways

• Criminal convictions remain the top deportation cause, but non-criminal removals rose sharply in 2025.
• By June 2025, nearly 60% arrested for deportation lacked criminal history in cities like Los Angeles.
• ICE aims to deport about 500,000 people in 2025, with increased risks for green card holders.

Deportation in the United States 🇺🇸: Criminal Convictions, Policy Shifts, and the Impact on Green Card Holders

As of July 2025, the landscape of deportation in the United States 🇺🇸 is changing rapidly. The most common reason for deportation remains criminal convictions, but recent policy changes and enforcement trends are affecting a broader range of immigrants, including green card holders, visa holders, and undocumented individuals. This article explains who is most at risk, what has changed, and how these shifts impact families, communities, and the country as a whole.

Who Is Being Deported and Why?

The majority of deportations in the United States 🇺🇸 still result from criminal convictions. This includes both green card holders (lawful permanent residents) and undocumented immigrants. However, 2025 has seen a sharp increase in deportations of people with no criminal history. According to recent data, by early June 2025, nearly 60% of those arrested for deportation in cities like Los Angeles and New York City had neither criminal convictions nor pending charges.

Key Reasons for Deportation:
– Criminal convictions (still the leading cause)
– Unlawful presence (overstaying a visa or entering without inspection)
– Immigration fraud (using false documents or lying on applications)
– Violation of visa or status conditions (such as unauthorized work)
– Failure to appear at immigration court hearings

Let’s look at each of these reasons in more detail and see how recent changes are affecting different groups.

Criminal Convictions: The Main Trigger for Deportation

Criminal convictions remain the top reason for deportation in the United States 🇺🇸. This includes a wide range of crimes, from serious offenses like drug trafficking and murder to crimes involving moral turpitude, such as fraud, theft, or domestic violence. Even some drug-related offenses, except for simple marijuana possession, can lead to removal.

For green card holders, a criminal conviction is the most common reason for being placed in removal proceedings. The law is especially strict for aggravated felonies, which can include crimes that might not seem serious but are classified as such under immigration law. Crimes involving moral turpitude are also a major risk, and even a single conviction can put a green card holder’s status in danger.

Examples of Crimes Leading to Deportation:
– Drug trafficking
– Sexual offenses
– Fraud and theft
– Domestic violence
– Certain types of assault

What Does This Mean for Green Card Holders?
– A single conviction for an aggravated felony or a crime involving moral turpitude can lead to removal.
– Extended absences from the United States 🇺🇸 (over two years) can also result in loss of green card status and deportation.
– Drug offenses (other than simple marijuana possession) are especially risky.

If you are a green card holder and have been charged with or convicted of a crime, it is critical to seek legal advice immediately. Deportation can happen quickly, and the consequences are severe.

The Shift Toward Non-Criminal Deportations

While criminal convictions are still the most common reason for deportation, there has been a clear shift in enforcement patterns in 2025. More people are being deported for non-criminal reasons than ever before.

Recent Data Highlights:
– From Inauguration Day to May 4, 2025, 44% of those arrested by ICE had a criminal conviction, 34% had pending charges, and 23% had no criminal history.
– Starting in late May 2025, only 30% had criminal convictions, 26% had pending charges, and 44% had no criminal history.
– In some regions, nearly 60% of those arrested in early June 2025 had neither criminal convictions nor pending charges.

This means that more people are being deported simply for being in the country without proper documents or for minor immigration violations, not because they committed a crime.

Common Non-Criminal Reasons for Deportation:
– Unlawful presence: Overstaying a visa, entering without inspection, or violating visa terms.
– Immigration fraud: Using fake documents or providing false information on immigration forms.
– Violation of status conditions: Not following the rules of a visa, such as working without permission or not maintaining student status.
– Failure to appear at immigration court: Missing a scheduled hearing leads to an automatic removal order.

Policy Changes and Enforcement Priorities Under President Trump

Since returning to office, President Trump has made mass deportation a top priority. At first, the focus was on people with criminal records, but now the administration is targeting all unauthorized immigrants, even those with no criminal history.

Key Policy Changes:
– Increased ICE raids and deportation flights: The use of military aircraft for high-risk removals was tried but stopped in March 2025 due to high costs.
– New legal tools: The administration has used the 1798 Alien Enemies Act and signed agreements with several Latin American countries to accept deportees, including those who are not their own citizens.
– More scrutiny for green card holders and visa holders: Many are losing work authorization and protection from deportation, especially those with temporary or “twilight” legal statuses.
– Encouragement of “self-deportation”: By restricting access to public benefits for immigrants and their U.S.-citizen relatives in mixed-status families, the administration hopes some will leave on their own.

What Does This Mean for Immigrants?
– Even those with no criminal record are at higher risk of deportation.
– Green card holders, international students, and people with temporary status face more scrutiny and possible loss of legal protections.
– Families in mixed-status households may lose access to important public benefits, increasing hardship and fear.

Deportation by the Numbers: 2025 Statistics

• ICE is expected to deport about 500,000 people in 2025. This is fewer than the 685,000 deportations recorded in 2024 under President Biden.
• Over 95,000 people were arrested by ICE in the first five months of 2025. A growing share of these had no criminal record.
• The undocumented population in the United States 🇺🇸 is estimated at 13.7 million as of mid-2023, with about 11 million lacking any lawful status.

These numbers show the scale of enforcement and the large number of people affected by current policies.

How Deportation Affects Different Groups

Green Card Holders
– Most at risk if convicted of aggravated felonies, crimes involving moral turpitude, or drug offenses.
– Extended absences from the United States 🇺🇸 (over two years) can also trigger loss of status and deportation.
– Increased scrutiny means even minor legal issues or paperwork mistakes can have serious consequences.

Undocumented Immigrants
– At risk for deportation due to unlawful presence, visa overstays, or entry without inspection.
– Even without a criminal record, the risk of deportation has increased due to expanded enforcement priorities.

Visa Holders
– Violations such as unauthorized employment or not maintaining required activities (like full-time student status) can lead to removal.
– More frequent checks and stricter enforcement mean that even small mistakes can result in deportation.

All Non-Citizens
– Failure to appear at immigration court hearings results in automatic removal orders.
– Legal representation and understanding your rights are more important than ever.

Expert and Stakeholder Perspectives

Government Officials
– The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) say their main focus is on “criminal illegal aliens.”
– However, the data shows that more non-criminals are being targeted for deportation.
– Secretary Kristi Noem and DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin have said that public safety is the main reason for current policies.

Advocacy and Research Organizations
– Experts warn that mass deportation could have serious economic and social effects, especially in industries that rely on immigrant labor and in communities with large immigrant populations.
– Over 50 lawsuits have been filed by advocacy groups challenging new enforcement measures as of April 2025.
– There is concern about the impact on families, especially children who are U.S. citizens but have undocumented parents.

Background: How Deportation Policy Has Changed Over Time

Interior vs. Border Deportations
– Interior deportations (those started by ICE inside the United States 🇺🇸) are more likely to involve long-term residents and are mostly based on criminal convictions.
– Border removals often reflect changes in migration flows and are not always a sign of enforcement priorities for people already living in the country.

Policy Evolution
– Under President Obama, interior removals averaged over 200,000 per year, with a strong focus on criminal convictions.
– During President Trump’s first term, the average was lower (about 80,000 per year), but the current term is marked by efforts to expand the scope of deportations to include more non-criminals.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Deportation Policy?

Possible Further Expansion
– The Trump administration has signaled plans to expand deportation efforts even more, including targeting people with temporary protections and increasing workplace raids.
– This is expected to increase fear in immigrant communities and reduce participation in public programs, even among those who are legally present.

Legal and Political Uncertainty
– Ongoing court cases and possible new rulings could change the direction of current enforcement policies.
– International cooperation with countries that receive deportees is a key factor in how mass deportations are carried out.

Practical Steps for Those at Risk

If you or someone you know is at risk of deportation, here are some important steps to take:

• Know your rights: Everyone in the United States 🇺🇸, regardless of status, has certain legal rights. Learn about your rights during encounters with immigration officers.
• Attend all court hearings: Missing a scheduled immigration court hearing can result in an automatic removal order.
• Seek legal help: If you have been arrested, charged with a crime, or received a notice to appear in immigration court, consult an immigration attorney immediately.
• Keep documents up to date: Make sure your address is current with immigration authorities and that you have copies of all important documents.
• Stay informed: Policies and enforcement priorities can change quickly. Reliable sources include the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official website and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official website.

Summary Table: Most Common Reasons for Deportation (2025)

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

• Criminal convictions remain the most common reason for deportation, but there is a clear increase in deportations for non-criminal immigration violations.
• Green card holders are at high risk if convicted of certain crimes or if they violate the terms of their status.
• Undocumented immigrants and visa holders face greater risks due to expanded enforcement priorities, even without a criminal record.
• Legal help and staying informed are essential for anyone at risk of deportation.

For more information on deportation, criminal convictions, and how these issues affect green card holders, visit the ICE official website for up-to-date resources and contact information. You can also check the USCIS official website for details on immigration forms and legal rights.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, the current environment is one of increased enforcement and uncertainty. Immigrants, their families, and their communities must remain alert, informed, and prepared to respond to changes in policy and practice.

If you have received a Notice to Appear in immigration court, you can find the official Form I-862, Notice to Appear on the USCIS website. Always use official government sources for forms and information.

Conclusion

The rules and reasons for deportation in the United States 🇺🇸 are changing. While criminal convictions are still the main cause, more people are now being deported for non-criminal reasons. Green card holders, undocumented immigrants, and visa holders all face new risks. Staying informed, knowing your rights, and seeking legal help are the best ways to protect yourself and your family in this uncertain time.

Learn Today

Deportation → Legal process of removing a non-citizen from the United States for immigration or criminal reasons.
Green Card Holder → A lawful permanent resident authorized to live and work permanently in the U.S.
Aggravated Felony → Serious crime classification under immigration law that triggers deportation and bars many reliefs.
Unlawful Presence → Being in the U.S. without proper authorization or overstaying a visa.
Removal Proceedings → Legal process initiated to determine whether a non-citizen should be deported.

This Article in a Nutshell

Deportation in the U.S. increasingly targets non-criminal immigrants, affecting green card holders and visa holders. Criminal convictions still drive most cases, but policy shifts in 2025 expand removals for immigration violations, causing uncertainty and legal challenges across communities.
— By VisaVerge.com