CRIMMIGRATION

Criminal Charges with Immigration Consequences: Expert Guidance

Criminal convictions can trigger deportation, bars on re-entry, and permanent loss of immigration status. We advise criminal defense attorneys on immigration consequences and represent non-citizen defendants to protect both their freedom and their right to remain in the United States.

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Our Services
✓ Licensed U.S. Immigration Attorneys
✓ Spanish and English Services
✓ Competitive Hourly Fee Options
✓ Initial Legal Evaluation

Did you know that Immigration Felonies start at one year?

AVOID ONE YEAR misdemeanor sentences (immediate or deferred). Immigration considers them felonies and will punish your client. Bargain for 11 months or even 364 days!

Don't let Criminal Defense mistakes destroy your client's future!

This CLE webinar addresses the intersection of criminal law and immigration law (“crimmigration”) and the serious consequences that criminal cases can have on non-citizen defendants. Equip yourself with the knowledge to identify immigration red flags, avoid common advisory errors, and fulfill your constitutional duties when representing immigrant defendants. Register today for CLE credit!
FOR CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS & NON-CITIZEN DEFENDANTS

Crimmigration: Where Criminal Law Meets Immigration Law

Crimmigration — the intersection of criminal law and immigration law — is one of the most complex and high-stakes areas of legal practice. A criminal conviction that seems minor in the criminal justice context can have devastating and irreversible immigration consequences: deportation, bars on re-entry, ineligibility for citizenship, or mandatory immigration detention.

We provide specialized services both to criminal defense attorneys who need immigration expertise for their non-citizen clients, and directly to non-citizens facing criminal charges whose immigration status is at risk.

Padilla v. Kentucky (2010) compliance. The U.S. Supreme Court requires criminal defense attorneys to advise non-citizen clients about immigration consequences of a guilty plea. Failure to do so may be ineffective assistance of counsel. We help ensure your practice meets this constitutional standard.

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SERVICES FOR LAWYERS & DEFENDANTS

Crimmigration Services We Offer

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CLE Webinars

Continuing Legal Education programs on crimmigration law for criminal defense attorneys. Topics include immigration consequences of specific offenses, Padilla compliance, and plea bargaining strategy.

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Criminal Defense Evaluations

Case-by-case immigration consequence analysis for non-citizen defendants. We identify removable offenses, advise on alternative pleas, and coordinate with counsel to minimize harm.

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Padilla v. Kentucky Compliance

Expert evaluation and written memos to help criminal defense attorneys satisfy their Sixth Amendment duty to advise non-citizen clients on specific immigration consequences of pleas.

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Post-Conviction Relief

Motions to vacate or modify convictions based on failure to receive required Padilla advisals, newly available evidence, or other grounds that could restore immigration eligibility.

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Aggravated Felony & CIMT Analysis

Detailed legal analysis of whether a specific offense constitutes an aggravated felony, crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT), or other removable offense under INA provisions.

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Expert Witness Services

Expert testimony or written declarations on immigration consequences of criminal convictions for use in criminal sentencing, immigration court, or habeas corpus proceedings.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Crimmigration: Common Questions for Attorneys

What did Padilla v. Kentucky require of criminal defense attorneys?
In Padilla v. Kentucky (2010), the Supreme Court held that the Sixth Amendment requires criminal defense attorneys to advise non-citizen clients on the immigration consequences of a guilty plea. Providing incorrect or no advice may constitute ineffective assistance of counsel, potentially voiding the conviction.
Aggravated felony is a term of art in immigration law encompassing a long list of offenses that includes crimes of violence, drug trafficking, theft, fraud over $10,000, and certain misdemeanors. Conviction of an aggravated felony triggers mandatory detention, eliminates most forms of relief from removal, and requires deportation of any non-citizen — including green card holders.
Yes. The criminal law label of “misdemeanor” is irrelevant for immigration purposes. Many misdemeanor offenses — domestic violence, drug possession, certain theft offenses, and crimes involving moral turpitude — can trigger deportation, inadmissibility, or bars to naturalization regardless of the sentence imposed.
A crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) involves conduct that is considered inherently base or vile. Examples include fraud, theft, certain assaults, and domestic violence offenses. Depending on timing and number of convictions, a CIMT can make a non-citizen deportable, inadmissible to the U.S., or ineligible for naturalization.
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