Chicago Immigration Attorney

312.750.1368

Crimmigration

for individuals

Immigration law can be complex, and it is a legal specialty of its own … There will, therefore, undoubtedly be numerous situations in which the deportation consequences of a particular plea are unclear or uncertain. Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. __ *11 (2010)

When immigrants are accused of crimes they face drastic consequences that are not applicable to U.S. citizens. Immigrant criminal defendants – especially those considering plea agreements with the state – need to be aware of much more than what criminal sentence they face.

Immigration law does not always correspond to criminal law. What may only be a state misdemeanor could be considered an “aggravated felony” under immigration law. A state judge may tell you that you will not be convicted if you complete probation, but you may still be considered “convicted” under immigration law.

The proper analysis of criminal cases involving immigrant clients begins with the client’s immigration history. A permanent resident hoping to avoid removal may want a different outcome than an undocumented immigrant who wants to be eligible to apply for relief in immigration court.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and you are accused of a crime, you should discuss the immigration consequences of any plea with your criminal defense attorney, and consult an immigration attorney if necessary.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and you have just learned that something in your criminal history has an immigration consequence, you should contact a “post-conviction relief” attorney promptly to see what options you may have.

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