Immigrant Criminal Defense Attorney in Fort Lauderdale

How Will an Arrest or Conviction Affect Your Immigration Status?

If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, it is in your best interest to retain legal representation as early as possible to defend you against the serious consequences you face. While criminal charges can have a devastating effect on anyone’s life, this is especially true for you as an immigrant, as you face the possibility of deportation and losing everything you have worked so hard to achieve in this country.

Don’t hesitate to contact our Fort Lauderdale criminal immigration lawyers at Guerrero & Asociados, PL for a hard-hitting legal defense to help you clear your name and resolve the charges you face. Our lead attorney is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and is here to help!

Why You Need an Immigration Attorney for Your Criminal Case in Florida?

It is common for an immigrant to hire a criminal defense attorney – whose experience with immigration law is limited – and to be advised to enter a guilty plea in a bargain to avoid being sent to jail or prison. This can be an enormous mistake, as it can make the immigrant inadmissible or even deportable. You must understand that a conviction for immigration purposes is not the same as a conviction for criminal purposes, and by choosing a lawyer who does not understand this distinction you could be led into making a very misguided decision about your case.

Most criminal defense attorneys simply do not know the complexities of immigration law, and only an attorney who actually focuses his practice on criminal and immigration law can determine whether or not a certain offense is a deportable one. Based on my experience in the «crimmigration» arena I am in a better position to advise you in criminal court as to what steps to take in order to avoid removal. For Spanish speaking clients, I am fully bilingual and could explain the complexities in their own terms. It’s better to speak with a criminal and immigration lawyer, so contact us online.

What Crimes Can Lead to Deportation?

Under the United States Code Title 8 §1227, there are several classes of deportable aliens. These include those who have been convicted of crimes of moral turpitude, such as fraud, burglary, theft, assault, prostitution, murder or rape, as well as felony criminal offenses that carry a minimum sentence of one year or more in prison.

Other types of crimes that can lead to deportation include aggravated felonies, certain weapons offenses, domestic violence and drug crimes other than possession of fewer than 30 grams of marijuana.

Traffic Tickets and Your Immigration Status

Depending on the circumstances of your situation, being pulled over and given a traffic ticket could carry severe consequences extending beyond the cost of paying the fine on the ticket. Under the Secure Communities program maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, local law enforcement agencies have access to federal records which may alert the police officer to the driver’s status as an illegal alien.

It is also possible that conviction for an offense such as driving without a license or reckless driving could lead to a detainer being placed on you, possibly leading to removal proceedings.