“Crimmigration” is the marriage of Criminal and Immigration Law. “Crimmigration” is important to our community because many criminal convictions and certain non-criminal convictions may have serious adverse consequences for aliens (green card holders); non-aliens and individuals in unlawful status in the United States of America.
Adverse consequences include but are not limited to: loss of immigration status; bar to re-entry; denial of naturalization and detention and or removal from the United States of America. Sadly and far too often, aliens; non-aliens and individuals in unlawful status, in the hands of criminal defense attorneys who are not well versed in immigration law, routinely accept plea-bargains that have dire immigration consequences. Furthermore, these life-changing consequences are not conveyed or explained to those at peril.
What follows afterward is a world-wind of litigation in Immigration Court that puts more emotional, mental, physical and financial stress on the alien or non-alien and his or her family. This nightmare scenario may often times be avoided outright or mitigated if the alien or non-alien facing criminal charges retains an attorney that is well versed in both criminal and immigration law. An attorney who practices “Crimmigration” has a full understanding of the interconnection between Immigration and Criminal Law.
There are many benefits of hiring an attorney that practices both Criminal and Immigration law. Some of the benefits are: 1) fully protecting your rights with respect to both criminal and immigration; 2) streamlined representation by one attorney and 3) cost-effective representation by retaining one attorney.
Aliens, non-aliens and individuals in unlawful status are more vulnerable than United States citizens when it comes to the effects of criminal and certain non-criminal convictions. This group of individuals must consider the ramification of any plea-bargain on their immigration status and future here in the United States.
The content of this article is intended for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. Those seeking specific legal advice should contact Olivier Roche Esq., at 718-812-0648
