If you are a lawful permanent resident, you should not leave the United States, apply to renew your green card or apply for naturalization if you have been convicted of a crime or have a pending criminal case. Why? Because you could be put into removal proceedings and threatened with possibly a 10 year bar or even a permanent bar to returning to the USA.
Certain criminal offenses carry far more serious immigration consequences (drug trafficking) than other type of crimes (petty theft). Consulting with an experienced immigration attorney to sort out all the possible implications of a criminal attorney should be at the top of your "To do list" before traveling outside the United States.
If you are a foreign national with criminal history and want to apply for DACA or DAPA, you should consult with an experienced immigration attorney before applying for deferred action.
To consult with our office, please contact us at (408) 279-5793 for assistance.