Immigration Law Commons^™

Deportation Of Aliens For Convictions Based Upon Possession Of Marijuana, Alan Lee

Cleveland State Law Review

The recent advent of decriminalization for adjudications based upon possession of small amounts of marijuana has focused much attention upon the harsh immigration consequences of such adjudications for the permanent resident alien. Under section 241(a)(11) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an alien convicted of possession of marijuana is deportable, and only limited means of relief are available. Due to its severity, however, the section has not been viewed with favor by the courts or the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the result in recent years has been the increased use of a number of ploys either to evade …