Aggravated Felonies

(A)  In General.  The chief immigration consequence of an aggravated felony conviction is that it constitutes a ground of deportation, discussed in Chapters 3 through 6, infra.  The remaining immigration consequences of an aggravated felony conviction are discussed in this chapter.  In addition to constituting a ground of deportation, an aggravated felony conviction is a bar to most, but not all, forms of relief from removal or deportation.  An aggravated felony conviction after November 29, 1990 is also a permanent bar to finding Good Moral Character, which is required for obtaining certain immigration benefits, such as naturalization.  Removal on account of an aggravated felony conviction also triggers inadmissibility, often permanently.  Finally, one who illegally re-enters the United States after deportation following an aggravated felony conviction faces a greatly enhanced sentence upon conviction for the illegal re-entry offense in United States District Court, ranging from thirty months to twenty years in federal prison.[1]

[1] See INA § 276(b)(2), 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b)(2).