Employers looking to permanently hire immigrant employees are generally intending to sponsor these employees to work at their business for some time. Though a permanent green card will not expire, it can still be taken away for a variety of reasons. Unlike natural born citizens, green card citizens can be deported unless they are fully naturalized.
The Employee is Convicted of a Crime
Not just any crime qualifies for the deportation of a legal immigrant. The crime itself has to be one of “moral turpitude,” and it has to be committed within five years of the individual actually receiving their green card. Furthermore, the crime has to be significant enough that the individual is sentenced to a year, though the full sentence of a year doesn’t necessarily have to have been served. If the employee is convicted of multiple crimes of “moral turpitude,” or a single aggravated felony, they may also be deported.
The Employee Didn’t Meet Application Requirements
Occasionally, it can be discovered after the green card is offered that the employee didn’t actually meet the application requirements. If this is discovered — or if the hiring process of the employee was not handled properly — the green card can be taken away. This is one reason why many businesses hire lawyers and professional services, both to examine the background of their applicants and ensure that the hiring process is handled correctly from start to finish.
The Employee Attempted to Bring In Immigrants Illegally
An attempt to bring in other immigrants on an illegal basis can potentially lead to the loss of a green card for a legal immigrant. While this may not seem likely, it can happen if employees attempt to bring over distant relatives or friends without a thorough understanding of the legal process. Employers may want to educate their employees thoroughly regarding the potential risks to their green card and regarding what could potentially constitute illegal immigration.
The process of hiring an immigrant employee permanently can be a lengthy one, including perm recruitment ads and the recruitment process itself. Because of this, employers should be very careful to vet their candidates.
