Decoding Immigration Law: Is Unauthorized Entry Criminal or Civil? ⚖️ U.S. law treats improper entry (like crossing outside a port of entry) as a misdemeanor under 8 U.S.C. §1325—punishable by fines or up to 6 months in jail for first offenses—plus potential civil penalties. Deportation itself is a civil process, while unlawful presence (e.g., visa overstay) is typically civil, not criminal. This distinction often sparks debate on enforcement and fairness. What aspects of U.S. immigration law in