I’m sure we’ve all seen the recent news about green card holders getting extra scrutiny at immigration…I have a friend who has a misdemeanor from 2008 that has been expunged, it’s past the statute of limitations…he has never had any secondary questioning or issues at the border before…would it be safe to travel? would this pose any issues for the citizenship application?
Would love if someone has real legal insight or personal experience!!!
I believe it really depends on if you are lucky or nor lol
Technically, you are good. Even if you travel, it is totally fine, if you have concerns, I highly recommend you to apply for the Global Entry, it will be way faster and more safe.
Not a lawyer, but from what I’ve seen — even expunged misdemeanors can sometimes come up during immigration checks, especially under tighter scrutiny these days.
If he’s never had issues before, he might be fine traveling, but it’s still smart to consult an immigration attorney before any trip, just to be safe.
For the citizenship application, USCIS looks at “good moral character,” and even old/expunged records might need to be disclosed.
Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard at the border.
I would love to hear what people have to say as well. It’s frightening that green card holders and even naturalized citizens are worried about their status now. Feels discouraging that no one seems to be “safe.”
thanks for bringing this up. It’s definitely something a lot of people are worried about right now, especially with the shifting tone around immigration enforcement.
From what I’ve seen and heard (not legal advice, just experience from friends in similar situations), even expunged misdemeanors can sometimes come up during immigration screenings, especially if fingerprints are involved. It’s rare, but not impossible. That said, if your friend has traveled multiple times without issue and nothing new has changed in their record, it’s likely okay—but these days “likely” isn’t always enough peace of mind.
As for citizenship, USCIS does ask about your full history, including arrests—even expunged ones. So your friend would still need to disclose it and possibly provide documentation. A lot depends on what the misdemeanor was for and whether it’s considered a crime of moral turpitude under immigration law (super vague category, unfortunately).
If he’s anxious, I’d honestly recommend talking to an immigration attorney who deals with post-conviction relief. Even just a consult might be worth it for peace of mind before traveling or filing N-400.
Hope that helps a bit! And following—would love to hear more firsthand experiences too.