How Can a Criminal Conviction Affect Your Immigration Status? – Liberty Law

According to the law, a conviction for crimes, such as fraud, theft, certain drug crimes, rape or assault, can be grounds for deportation. Moreover, for certain crimes, you can be permanently barred from entering the US in the future. Whether you are an undocumented person or a permanent legal resident, a criminal conviction can mean deportation or a denial of an application for naturalized citizenship. Thus, one of the most important things for you to remember if you have been arrested for a crime is to never admit guilt or plead guilty to any crime without knowing what will happen to your legal status beforehand.

There has been much discussion in the news recently with respect to state laws as they pertain to immigration. For instance, a knowledgeable Salt Lake City DUI attorney can tell you that the laws in Utah now require the police to confirm the immigration status of people who are arrested for felonies and class A misdemeanors, as well as those who are booked and jailed on class B or class C misdemeanors, which may include certain instances of DUI.

You should also note that, in many cases, once you go through a state court proceeding to defend yourself in a criminal matter, and you are either convicted, acquitted or your case is dismissed, you will likely then be placed in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Once in ICE’s custody, there’s a variety of things that could take place. For example, depending on the seriousness of the crime, you could be tried by an immigration court and involuntarily deported; you could be voluntarily deported; or, you could be allowed to stay in the United States. If you have been convicted of a DUI or a related crime, and you need a Salt Lake City DUI attorney who is well-informed in immigration law as well, please call James Lee for a free consultation.