US FederalWhat are the grounds for deportation from the United States?
Noncitizens may be deported (or denied entry) for reasons including criminal convictions, security threats, health-related grounds, fraud or misrepresentation, and failure to meet immigration requirements.
What the Law Says
U.S. immigration law lists specific categories of people who are 'inadmissible' — meaning they may be denied entry or, if already present, placed in removal (deportation) proceedings. The primary statutory source is 8 U.S.C. § 1182, which defines who is ineligible to enter or remain in the United States.
Section 1182 outlines over a dozen broad grounds for inadmissibility, many of which also serve as bases for deportation after admission. These include health-related grounds (e.g., communicable diseases or lack of required vaccinations), criminal activity (including 'aggravated felonies' and crimes involving moral turpitude), security and foreign policy concerns (e.g., terrorism ties), public charge risk, immigration violations (e.g., visa fraud or unlawful presence), and documentation failures.
Importantly, some grounds apply only to people seeking entry (e.g., certain health bars), while others — like conviction of an aggravated felony — apply equally to those already admitted and can trigger deportation. The law also includes waivers for some grounds, but not for all — for example, there is no waiver for most terrorism-related inadmissibility.
Statutory TextAny alien convicted of an aggravated felony at any time shall be considered to be convicted of such a felony for purposes of this chapter, regardless of whether the conviction was entered before, on, or after the date of enactment of this paragraph.
— Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(2)(A)(iii) — Criminal grounds
Statutory TextAny alien who seeks to procure, or has sought to procure, or has procured a visa, other documentation, or benefits under this chapter by fraud or willful misrepresentation of a material fact is inadmissible.
— Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(6)(C)(i) — Fraud and misrepresentation
Statutory TextAny alien who a consular officer or the Attorney General knows or has reason to believe seeks to enter the United States to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in terrorist activity is inadmissible.
— Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(i)(I) — Terrorism-related inadmissibility
What to Do
Consult an immigration attorney immediately if you face potential deportation or have a criminal charge.
Gather all immigration documents, court records, and evidence of rehabilitation or family ties.
Determine whether a waiver (e.g., Form I-601) applies to your ground of inadmissibility.
Attend all immigration court hearings — missing one may result in an automatic removal order.
Never submit false information on immigration forms; fraud triggers a permanent bar unless waived.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.