I was cited for petty theft at Walmart recently. I am not a United States Citizen. If I am found guilty of petty theft, could this impact my ability to become a citizen?

You are definitely correct to be worried about this consequence. Petty theft is deemed a crime of “moral turpitude” for immigration purposes. This means that a conviction could have a very negative impact on your ability to be come a United States citizen in the future. You should retain an experienced theft defense lawyer immediately so they can help you. In many cases, the court may offer a program which would allow you to avoid a conviction for petty theft. In other cases we have been able to have the petty theft conviction reduced to a lesser charge that does not carry with it any adverse immigration consequences. Do not make the mistake of going to court without first contacting our office for guidance.