Expunctions, Nondisclosures, and Immigration Law: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:22, 23 October 2026

This article explains how federal immigration law and Texas expunction and nondisclosure laws work together.

Composed by Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas • Last Updated on July 22, 2025

Expunctions and nondisclosures can clear or conceal some criminal records under Texas law. But they do not erase a criminal record for federal immigration purposes. Federal immigration law still requires you to disclose your criminal record on immigration forms and to immigration officials.

This article explains how expunctions and nondisclosures work in Texas, how they affect the immigration process, and why noncitizens should keep copies of their criminal records.

What is the difference between federal and state law?

Federal law

Federal law is made by the United States government. These laws are the same in every state.

State law

Every state can have different laws, so what is true in one state may not be true in another. For example, divorce laws in Texas are different from divorce laws in Louisiana.

Key differences

Where they apply. State laws work only in one state. Federal laws work everywhere in the country.
Federal law beats state law. If a state law and a federal law conflict, the federal law is usually followed.

Who controls expunctions and nondisclosures—Texas or the federal government?

Expunctions and nondisclosures are matters of Texas state law.

Expunctions and nondisclosures follow Texas law, but the federal government does not have to follow those rules.

What are expunctions and nondisclosures?

An expunction is a process where your criminal record is removed for certain offenses, according to Texas law.

A nondisclosure is a process where your criminal record is sealed, according to Texas law. This means it cannot be disclosed to certain people and groups, such as employers and online criminal record websites.

Learn more about the differences between expunctions and nondisclosures in Clear or Seal Your Record? Expunctions vs. Nondisclosures in Texas.

United States federal law: Immigration law

Immigration law is federal law and is not affected by Texas expunctions or nondisclosures.

This means that if you are not a U.S. citizen and want to apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card), citizenship, a visa, or another immigration benefit, you must tell the truth about any criminal records, including arrests.

Even if a Texas court clears or hides your record, you still need to list it on your immigration application.

If you lie about your criminal record, your application can be denied for fraud.

Expunctions, nondisclosures, and the immigration process

The immigration process and good moral character

Generally, someone who seeks an immigration benefit must show that they have been a "person of good moral character" for a certain period of time or that they have not been convicted of certain types of offenses.
Noncitizens seeking an immigration benefit must disclose any arrests. This may be necessary even when the disclosure is simply to show that the arrest did not result in a conviction or that the outcome of the case does not have immigration consequences.

Providing proof of case results

Generally, when you apply for an immigration benefit, you will need to provide a certified copy of your case's disposition. The disposition is the official final outcome of your criminal case.

Immigration authorities, such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or an immigration judge may use this document to verify the result of your criminal proceeding.

Criminal records and best practices for noncitizens

It is best to get at least five certified copies of your criminal record before your expunction or nondisclosure case is finished so that you have copies for your records.

When you receive an expunction, your records are erased. This means you may not be able to get proof of the outcome of your case later.
If you have a criminal record, including an arrest, you must disclose it on immigration forms and to immigration officials when required—even if your record was cleared or sealed through an expunction or nondisclosure.

Sources

"Expunctions, Nondisclosures, and Immigration Law", TexasLawHelp.org, archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on July 23, 2025. Original article last updated July 22, 2025.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-Este artículo explica cómo funcionan conjuntamente la ley federal de inmigración y las leyes de eliminación de antecedentes y de no divulgación de Texas.
+This article explains how federal immigration law and Texas expunction and nondisclosure laws work together.
-''Redactado por [https://es.texaslawhelp.org/directory/volunteer-legal-services-of-central-texas Servicios Legales Voluntarios del Centro de Texas] • Última edición el 7 de abril de 2025''
+''Composed by Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas • Last Updated on July 22, 2025''
-Aquí obtendrá información sobre cómo funcionan las eliminaciones de antecedentes y las prohibiciones de divulgación en Texas, y por qué no borran sus antecedentes penales con fines de inmigración. La ley de Texas le permite borrar u ocultar algunos antecedentes penales. Sin embargo, la ley federal de inmigración aún requiere que divulgue sus antecedentes penales en los formularios de inmigración y a los funcionarios de inmigración. El artículo también explica por qué las personas deben guardar copias de sus antecedentes penales, pase lo que pase, para proteger sus derechos.
+Expunctions and nondisclosures can clear or conceal some criminal records under Texas law. But they do not erase a criminal record for federal immigration purposes. Federal immigration law still requires you to disclose your criminal record on immigration forms and to immigration officials.
-== ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la ley federal y la estatal? ==
+This article explains how expunctions and nondisclosures work in Texas, how they affect the immigration process, and why noncitizens should keep copies of their criminal records.
-''Ley federal''
+== What is the difference between federal and state law? ==
-La ley federal es hecha por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos. Estas leyes son las mismas en todos los estados.
+'''Federal law'''
-''Ley estatal''
+Federal law is made by the United States government. These laws are the same in every state.
-Cada estado puede tener leyes diferentes, por lo que lo que es cierto en un estado puede no serlo en otro. Por ejemplo, las leyes de divorcio en Texas son diferentes de las leyes de divorcio en Louisiana.
+'''State law'''
-''Diferencias clave''
+Every state can have different laws, so what is true in one state may not be true in another. For example, divorce laws in Texas are different from divorce laws in Louisiana.
-* ''Dónde se aplican.'' Las leyes estatales solo funcionan en un estado. Las leyes federales funcionan en todo el país.
+'''Key differences'''
-* ''La ley federal prevalece sobre la ley estatal.'' Si una ley estatal y una ley federal entran en conflicto, generalmente se sigue la ley federal.
-== ¿Quién controla la eliminación de antecedentes y la confidencialidad: Texas o el gobierno federal? ==
+* '''Where they apply.''' State laws work only in one state. Federal laws work everywhere in the country.
+* '''Federal law beats state law.''' If a state law and a federal law conflict, the federal law is usually followed.
-La eliminación de antecedentes y la confidencialidad son cuestiones de la ley estatal de Texas. Las eliminaciones de antecedentes y las prohibiciones de divulgación siguen la ley de Texas, pero el gobierno federal no está obligado a seguir esas reglas.
+== Who controls expunctions and nondisclosures—Texas or the federal government? ==
-== ¿Qué son las eliminaciones de antecedentes y las prohibiciones de divulgación? ==
+Expunctions and nondisclosures are matters of Texas state law.
-''La eliminación de antecedentes'' es un proceso en el que se eliminan sus antecedentes penales por ciertos delitos, de acuerdo con las leyes establecidas de Texas.
+Expunctions and nondisclosures follow Texas law, but the federal government does not have to follow those rules.
-''La prohibición de divulgación'' es un proceso mediante el cual se sellan sus antecedentes penales, de acuerdo con las leyes establecidas de Texas. Esto significa que no se puede divulgar a ciertas personas y grupos, como empleadores y sitios web de antecedentes penales en línea.
+== What are expunctions and nondisclosures? ==
-Obtenga más información sobre la eliminación de antecedentes y la prohibición de divulgación en Texas si lee [https://es.texaslawhelp.org/article/clear-or-seal-your-record-expunctions-vs-nondisclosures-in-texas ¿Eliminar o sellar antecedentes? Eliminación de antecedentes frente a confidencialidad en Texas.]
+An '''expunction''' is a process where your criminal record is removed for certain offenses, according to Texas law.
-== Ley Federal de los Estados Unidos: Ley de Inmigración ==
+A '''nondisclosure''' is a process where your criminal record is sealed, according to Texas law. This means it cannot be disclosed to certain people and groups, such as employers and online criminal record websites.
-La ley de inmigración es una ley federal y no se ve afectada por las eliminaciones de antecedentes o prohibiciones de divulgación de Texas.
+Learn more about the differences between expunctions and nondisclosures in [https://web.archive.org/web/20250723012905/https://texaslawhelp.org/article/clear-or-seal-your-record-expunctions-vs-nondisclosures-texas Clear or Seal Your Record? Expunctions vs. Nondisclosures in Texas].
-Esto significa que si usted no es ciudadano y quiere solicitar la residencia permanente legal (es decir, una tarjeta verde), la ciudadanía, una visa u otro beneficio de inmigración, debe decir la verdad sobre sus antecedentes penales, como arrestos. Incluso si un tribunal de Texas borra u oculta sus antecedentes, aún debe incluirlos en su solicitud.
+== United States federal law: Immigration law ==
-Si miente sobre sus antecedentes penales, su solicitud puede ser denegada por fraude.
+Immigration law is federal law and is not affected by Texas expunctions or nondisclosures.
-== Eliminación de antecedentes, confidencialidad y el proceso de inmigración ==
+This means that if you are not a U.S. citizen and want to apply for lawful permanent residency (a green card), citizenship, a visa, or another immigration benefit, you must tell the truth about any criminal records, including arrests.
-''El proceso de inmigración y el buen carácter moral''
+Even if a Texas court clears or hides your record, you still need to list it on your immigration application.
-* En general, una persona que busca obtener un beneficio de inmigración debe demostrar que ha sido una "persona de buena conducta moral" durante un cierto período de tiempo o que no ha sido condenado por ciertos tipos de delitos.
+If you lie about your criminal record, your application can be denied for fraud.
-* Las personas no ciudadanas que buscan un beneficio de inmigración ''deben'' divulgar cualquier arresto, incluso si esa divulgación se hace simplemente para demostrar que no hubo condena como resultado del arresto, o que el resultado del caso no tiene consecuencias para el proceso de inmigración.
-''Proporcionar pruebas de los resultados del caso''
+== Expunctions, nondisclosures, and the immigration process ==
-* Por lo general, cuando solicita un beneficio de inmigración, testamento deberá proporcionar una copia certificada de la disposición de su caso, el resultado final oficial de su arresto.
+=== The immigration process and good moral character ===
-* Las autoridades de inmigración, como el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional, el USCIS o un juez de inmigración, utilizan este documento para verificar los resultados de su proceso penal.
-== Antecedentes penales y mejores prácticas para no ciudadanos ==
+* Generally, someone who seeks an immigration benefit must show that they have been a "person of good moral character" for a certain period of time or that they have not been convicted of certain types of offenses.
+* Noncitizens seeking an immigration benefit must disclose any arrests. This may be necessary even when the disclosure is simply to show that the arrest did not result in a conviction or that the outcome of the case does not have immigration consequences.
-Es mejor obtener ''al menos cinco copias certificadas'' de sus antecedentes penales ''antes'' de que finalice su caso de eliminación de antecedentes o de no divulgación para que pueda tenerlos para sus registros.
+=== Providing proof of case results ===
-* Cuando recibe una eliminación de antecedentes, sus antecedentes se borran para siempre. Esto significa que más adelante no podrá obtener ninguna prueba del resultado de su caso.
+Generally, when you apply for an immigration benefit, you will need to provide a certified copy of your case's disposition. The disposition is the official final outcome of your criminal case.
-* Si tiene antecedentes penales, como un arresto, debe revelarlos en todos los formularios de inmigración y a los funcionarios de inmigración, incluso si sus antecedentes fueron borrados o sellados mediante eliminación de antecedentes o prohibición de divulgación.
+Immigration authorities, such as the [https://www.dhs.gov/ U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)], [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)], or an immigration judge may use this document to verify the result of your criminal proceeding.
+== Criminal records and best practices for noncitizens ==
+It is best to get at least five certified copies of your criminal record before your expunction or nondisclosure case is finished so that you have copies for your records.
+* When you receive an expunction, your records are erased. This means you may not be able to get proof of the outcome of your case later.
+* If you have a criminal record, including an arrest, you must disclose it on immigration forms and to immigration officials when required—even if your record was cleared or sealed through an expunction or nondisclosure.
+== Sources ==
+* [https://web.archive.org/web/20250723012905/https://texaslawhelp.org/article/expunctions-nondisclosures-and-immigration-law "Expunctions, Nondisclosures, and Immigration Law"], ''TexasLawHelp.org'', archived by the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine on July 23, 2025. Original article last updated July 22, 2025.
+* [https://www.dhs.gov/ U.S. Department of Homeland Security]
+* [https://www.uscis.gov/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services]
+```