A criminal conviction can have grave consequences on one’s immigration status, and criminal defense attorneys in Washington have a legal obligation to advise a criminal defendant of the immigration consequences of a plea agreement or conviction. Immigration consequences are a collateral consequence to the criminal case, rather than direct, but nevertheless, all criminal charges can impact your immigration status. The Seattle Criminal Lawyer at SQ Attorneys is trained to represent you in your criminal charges and minimize the immigration consequences which may result.
The government is pursuing federal offenses of identity theft, Social Security fraud and document fraud, all if which are felonies.
How could these charges impact your immigration status? Most felony convictions, whether in state or federal court, fall under the immigration code definition of aggravated felonies. The Seattle Criminal Attorney at SQ Attorneys can fight your case and seek results which will allow you to be protected. A conviction of a felony could result in removal, deportation, or exclusion. An alien who is convicted, is removed/deported/excluded from the United States, and who is then apprehended while or after new illegal entry will be prosecuted and face a federal prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Identity theft, Social Security fraud and document fraud are all crimes for which, if convicted, an alien may be deported. Criminal convictions may lead to deportation if, the crime is deemed one of moral turpitude or if it is deemed an aggravated felony conviction. Crimes of moral turpitude include, among many other crimes, mail fraud, counterfeiting, forgery and false statements. An aggravated felony may be fraud or deceit offenses, alien smuggling, obstruction of justice and perjury. Furthermore, aliens convicted of aggravated felonies are also subject to special, expedited removal proceedings with minimal due process protections, cannot receive bail or bond when arrested by immigration officials, have almost no means of appealing, and are barred for life from applying for admissions to the United States
What can you do if you, or someone you know, is facing federal criminal charges?
If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges, contact a Seattle criminal defense attorney who is either familiar with the immigration laws or works closely with an immigration attorney to provide sound advice related to the consequences of charges and convictions. While no attorney can guarantee success, if you get an attorney involved at the beginning of the case, your likelihood of success increases greatly.
If you or a loved one is cited or charged with a crime in Western Washington (whether as a primary aggressor or as an accomplice) it is imperative that a Seattle criminal attorney be retained as soon as possible to ensure all personal, professional and financial interests are protected. Seattle criminal defense lawyers Greg Schwesinger and Saad Qadri of SQ Attorneys represent those individuals criminally charged through all phases of their Washington State criminal case. The Seattle criminal attorneys of SQ Attorneys are experienced and proven negotiators that make a world of difference for those accused of committing a crime. SQ Attorneys is a team of seasoned Seattle criminal lawyers that work tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for each and every client they have the honor of representing. Arrested for committing a crime in Western Washington? Call The Criminal Defense Team of SQ Attorneys at (206) 441-0900 or (425) 998-8384 for an initial free consultation.