The First Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the crime of
malicious destruction of property is a crime of moral turpitude for
immigration purposes. As a result, an immigrant convicted of this
crime may be subject to deportation or exclusion from the United States
depending upon the persons immigration status and criminal history.
The Court found "malicious destruction
of property in Massachusetts requires 'gratuitous, excessive violence
purposefully designed to intimidate and overpower, or destructive acts
that were by design and hostile to the owner of
the property, whoever that may have been.'" Therefore it involves moral
turpitude under the Immigration and Naturalization Act. In this case,
the criminal defendant had admitted to sufficient facts to establish
that he had broken some glass and thrown some furniture around while drunk.
Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.
