About Consultations Regarding the Immigration Consequences of a Plea Agreement
In Padilla v. Kentucky, 130 S. Ct. 1473 (2010), the United States Supreme Court held that criminal lawyers have an obligation to advise their non-citizen clients of the potential immigration consequences of taking a plea offer. If you are not a United States Citizen, pleading guilty to a criminal offense could have a dramatic effect upon your immigration status. A conviction could impact your ability to get a green card.
If you already have a green card, a conviction could impact your ability to become a citizen.
A conviction could also impact your ability to travel outside of the United States. A conviction could result in your being placed in removal proceedings and being deported from the United States. A conviction could result in your being subject to detention. Thus, it is very important that a non-citizen facing criminal charges consult with an immigration expert before entering into any plea agreement.
Why You Should Hire Me for Consultations Regarding the Immigration Consequences of a Plea Agreement
I do not practice criminal law. However, I can provide advice to criminal lawyers and defendants as to the immigration consequence of proposed plea agreements.
Over the years, I have worked with many criminal lawyers in trying to find a plea agreement that will incur either no immigration consequence or a minimal immigration consequence that will give the client the opportunity to remain in the United States.
I was providing consultations regarding the immigration consequences of proposed plea agreements even before the U.S. Supreme Court decided Padilla.
For many immigration lawyers, providing consultations regarding the immigration consequence of a plea agreement is a new trend in immigration law created by Padilla.
For me, it is something that I have been doing as long as I have been practicing immigration law.