Encyclopedia Britannica, in its online version (accessed Oct. 10, 2007), offered the following definition:
"In Anglo-American law today, deportation is a civil enactment imposed on persons who are neither native-born nor naturalized citizens. The alien is ordinarily, but not necessarily, returned to the country from which he came, usually because he has entered the deporting country illegally or without proper passport or visa. Aliens who become public charges, commit crimes involving moral turpitude, or engage in subversive activities can also be subjected to deportation proceedings. U.S. courts have shown leniency in circumstances in which families are split apart unjustifiably and left with no means of support.
Deportation differs from exclusion, extradition, and exile. Exclusion is the refusal by a governing authority to admit an alien. Extradition is the removal of a criminal to the country from which he has fled to avoid criminal prosecution or prison. Exile is a prolonged absence from one's country, either voluntary or by direction of the sovereign."
U.S. Immigration Support, an immigration information and support website, in a section entitled "Deportation from the United States" (accessed Oct. 10, 2007), offered:
"When an individual is deported, they are essentially being forced to leave against their will. They do not have a choice as to whether they can remain in the United States. Generally, the USCIS [U.S. Customs and Immigration Services] issue deportation orders because the individual has somehow broken the law. In 1996, a law was introduced that allowed those who were not citizens in the U.S. and that received a jail sentence for a year or longer [felony] to be deported. It does not matter if the sentence was later suspended. ...an individual can be deported even if they committed the crime in the past. While there is the possibility of appealing the orders of deportation, the odds are against them... In addition, judges no longer [have] discretionary power when deciding a deportation case. Both children and adults can be deported... Sometimes individuals are detained for months, while other deportations occur so rapidly that their families do not find out until afterwards. One of the problems that the United States encounters is that not all countries are willing to take back those with deportation orders. In these cases, their deportation may be further delayed."
About.com, an encyclopedic information website, in its Immigration Issues sections titled "Deportation: What Does This U.S. Immigration Term Mean?," and "What is a Deportable Alien in the U.S.?" (accessed Oct. 10, 2007), defined deportation and deportee as follows:
"Deportation (also known as removal): The formal removal of a foreigner (an alien) from the United States when the alien has been found removable for violating the immigration laws. Deportation is ordered by an immigration judge without any punishment being imposed or contemplated. Prior to April 1997 deportation and exclusion were separate removal procedures. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 consolidated these procedures."
"Deportee: An alien in and admitted to the United States subject to any grounds of removal specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes any alien illegally in the United States, regardless of whether the alien entered the country by fraud or misrepresentation or entered legally but subsequently violated the terms of his or her nonimmigrant classification or status. A deportable alien is not necessarily an illegal alien. Rather, they might even be a legal green card holder, now facing deportation because of a criminal charge."
