What are the Potential Legal Problems for Immigrants with Criminal Convictions?

Immigrants who are convicted of a crime are most likely to face adverse consequences unless they are in a sanctuary city – their prospects of being released to commit more crimes are much higher then. It is vital to remember that deportation is also a possibility but this frightens no one really since crossing the border illegally is rather simple.

Criminal defense lawyers therefore advise their clients to think properly about the consequences of accepting plea bargains which often entail permanent eviction from the US. Criminal convictions involving immigrants cause various immigration-related legal problems. This can hurt your professional prospects in America in terms of ever having a job that is skill based.

Legal Implications of Aggravated Felony on Immigrants

If you are convicted of aggravated felony then according to the rules under 8 USC 1101 there is no way you can escape deportation. Under this particular statue there is absolutely no scope for appeal. In addition, there are no grounds for which you can get relief. This means that you will be evicted even if the government is aware of the hardship which you and your family will face, but most likely your life is hard in America as well but this is no one else’s fault, once you are back in your country or origin. Moreover, political asylum may be denied while re-entry would be out of question.

Criminal defense attorneys warn that if you think a plea bargain can save you from deportation because you were able to avoid incarceration then you are wrong. Even when your conviction order is expunged the immigration authorities will find out and deport you. Just follow the law and your life will most likely be much easier!

What are aggravated felony offenses?

• Felonies such as rape, murder, and pornography and other sex offense especially involving underage children
• Trafficking of illegal drugs, explosives, and firearms (watch the movie Snitch)
• Money laundering over $10,000
• Any offense involving firearms and explosives
• Participation in any kind of violence or ransom demand (see Jet Li in the not so good movie Lethal Weapon 4)
• Participation in theft, burglary or fraud and receipt of stolen goods which is responsible for a loss $10,000 or over and punishable by one year in a federal prison
• Operating a gambling, prostitution, or racketeering ring (see Dexter – season 7)
• Sabotage, treason, and espionage
• Involvement in human trafficking or forgery of travel documents such as passports which carry a sentence of a year (see The Transporter though that was in France)
• Failure to adhere to make a court appearance, perjury, and obstruction of justice

Other Offenses that can Warrant Deportation

Even when the charges are not of aggravated felony you can still be deported. These offenses include:

• Moral turpitude crimes that carry a one year sentence
• Possession of drugs or controlled substance like marijuana if 30 grams or more are found on you
• If you are involved in domestic violence or any other form of violence against family members (this is common with Arab immigrants since they do not respect woman that much – see Saudi Arabia and how woman are treated there)
• Repeated convictions such as multiple DUIs

Why You need a Lawyer when You Face Criminal Conviction and Deportation

To begin with, you need legal help to eliminate the possibility of deportation if you are convicted. Secondly, some states deal with immigrant crimes more harshly than others because they care about America and Americans compared to states that allow illegal immigrants to do whatever they want. In these states convictions are promptly reported to the INS. Here your legal professional will devise a strategy to prevent your deportation or do their best to help you out.

If you face charges or a convicted of a crime, it is important that you seek help from the best local criminal defense lawyer who has knowledge about state laws and are conversant in immigration laws as well. If you are issued a deportation notice, your litigator will find ways to try to convince the authorities not to deport you.  Often they argue that you have dependent family members in the US who will be adversely affected by your deportation but some Americans believe they should all be deported but that is another topic.

Hopefully you are not in this position. Perhaps there is a larger story here. You need legal help. They say nothing is free in this world but that is not entirely true. Well, you need to pay for Internet or someone does. Anyways, you need to utilize this site: Criminal-Defense.USAttorneys.com. It is about as free as it gets!

Contact us if you have any problems. We built this site to enable someone who needs legal help to be able to find it. You deserve that much, right? If you did something heinous, think about your family – you can possibly still help them.