Can Justin Bieber Be Deported? Plus What Would Happen If The Biebs Was A Fameless Mexican Immigrant

Justin Bieber's arrest in Miami over drag racing and driving under the influence has led to some speculation that the Canadian singer could be deported back to his native Canada. Bieber's crimes are not necessarily grounds for deportation, as they are first-degree misdemeanors. However, as New York City immigration attorney Michael Wildes told ABC News, "if ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) wanted to go after him, they could make a case. That and the eggs is opening files in multiple government agencies and states, and could make it more likely."

The egg incident Wildes is referring to is an ongoing Los Angeles police investigation into an accusation by Justin Bieber's neighbor that he threw eggs at his house and caused $20,000 worth of damages. Immigration laws allow non-citizens to be deported for "moral turpitude," that is being arrested for immoral or unethical behavior. While drag racing is unlikely to be considered "moral turpitude," if Bieber is convicted it could lead to future immigration issues.

However, Beliebers needn't be too concerned. As USA Today noted, "Bieber is a rich and famous foreigner and they generally tend to have good lawyers." If Bieber were not rich and famous, were he, say, an immigrant of Mexican descent, life would be a lot more difficult for him. In criminal court, everyone is guaranteed legal counsel, regardless of their ability to pay. By contrast, in immigration court, 84 percent of people do not have any legal representation. Moreover, most migrants are non-English speakers, making the legal system all the more impossible.

That being said, Bieber is "headed down a bad path, and he needs to watch out," said Stacy Tolchin, an immigration attorney in Los Angeles while speaking to the L.A. Times. Were Bieber to be convicted of a drug-related offense, the consequences could be much more serious. Any immigrant who has been convicted of serious drug charges or indeed can be proven to be a drug abuser can be deported. If Bieber were to get hit with a drug charge, "he [would really need] to get excellent criminal defense and an excellent immigration attorney," said Tolchin.

Ultimately with the amount of wealth and influence accrued by someone of Bieber's status, the top criminal defense lawyer and immigration team would be easily within reach, were the ICE to even consider taking on a case as high profile as Bieber's. Not so for the thousands of poor documented and undocumented immigrants who face deportation on a daily basis.