Why You Need a Criminal Immigration Lawyer After an Arrest
Non-citizens face a unique set of consequences after a criminal arrest. If you face criminal charges as an immigrant, you need a skilled criminal immigration lawyer to defend your freedom and future in the U.S.
Author: Massiel Silva Tadeo, Founder, Tadeo & Silva
Author: Massiel Silva Tadeo, Founder, Tadeo & SilvaAttorney Massiel Silva Tadeo is a partner and owner at The Tadeo & Silva Law Firm. She specializes in removal (deportation) defense, family immigration, and hardship waivers. Published on: November 12, 2021, Last updated on: November 30, 2021.
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What Does a Criminal Immigration Lawyer Do?
If you are a non-citizen who has been charged with a crime in the United States, having a criminal immigration attorney on your side is a must. Why? Whatever you are being charged for will have implications on your immigration status that may cost you your hard-earned life in the U.S.
You may be deported back to your native country for committing a crime on American soil. However, with an immigration attorney, you may stand a chance to remain in the U.S.
The Role of a Criminal Immigration Attorney
The intersection of criminal and immigration law has become an essential practice area of immigration defense over the years. The efforts have been implemented to allow immigrants to obtain or maintain their status as lawful permanent residents.
So, what happens if you are convicted of a crime and you are an immigrant? Some serious immigration consequences include deportation, ineligibility to receive asylum or loss of eligibility for a U.S. green card or visa.
Should I Hire a Criminal Immigration Attorney?
Hiring a criminal immigration attorney is vital. Below are a few benefits of hiring a criminal immigration attorney.
Benefits of Hiring Criminal Immigration Lawyer
They Are Seasoned By Experience
The help of a professional and an experienced criminal defense attorney cannot be understated. They are well aware of the nuances of criminal law and how it revolves around undocumented immigrants in the United States.
An Immigration Lawyer Minimizes Mistakes
A criminal immigration case is pretty complex, and filing the correct paperwork is crucial. If it is done incorrectly, you may be subject to severe immigration consequences.
They Will Explain Your Options to You
No matter the root of your criminal case, you will most likely have legal options to protect yourself. An immigration lawyer can offer you sound legal counsel and help you settle for the most effective option.
When you begin working with a criminal lawyer, they will lay out your options and make sure you understand the full scope of your criminal conviction. Whether it is a crime involving moral turpitude, use of a controlled substance, petty theft, domestic violence crimes, an aggravated felony, or any other violent crimes, a seasoned criminal immigration lawyer may be able to help.
How to Find a Leading Criminal Immigration Lawyer
As an immigrant, finding the right criminal defense attorney may be tricky. Because you are not a United States citizen, you want to be extra careful while finding a criminal immigration attorney.
What to Consider When Hiring a Criminal Immigration Attorney
Here are a few tips for finding a leading criminal defense lawyer to represent you with your criminal issues.
Avoid Hiring a General Practitioner
Be careful when considering hiring an attorney who handles a variety of legal matters. An attorney who practices everything from personal injury and immigration law to probate and family law will find it hard to adequately keep up with immigration law, which is constantly evolving.
Find yourself an attorney who practices immigration law and has handled criminal convictions for undocumented immigrants. This is also preferable to a standard criminal defense lawyer or an immigration lawyer who only handles non-criminal matters.
Make Sure to Get a Legal Agreement
Make sure you are given a legal agreement at the beginning. Technically, a legal agreement protects you from hiring an immigration attorney who overpromises and does not deliver. Having an agreement will also make sure your attorney knows what legal services you may need.
Find One With Affordable Fee Structures
Experienced criminal immigration lawyers know that their clients likely don’t have an ideal financial situation. For that reason, you should look for a lawyer who will be transparent about how much your defense will cost to allow you to determine if their fee structure fits into your budget. At Tadeo & Silva Law, our consultation fee is applied to the cost of legal services, which can result in savings for you.
Average Cost of a Criminal Immigration Attorney
The cost of a criminal immigration attorney varies widely, so it’s challenging to come up with an estimate before your lawyer learns about your unique immigration law case. The factors involved in your immigration/criminal law case, such as your immigration status, the relevant penal code, whether you are currently in ICE custody, or whether removal proceedings have already begun will all impact the total cost of your case.
The fee will also depend on the type of criminal immigration attorney you work with. You can not expect the legal fees of a lawyer with years of experience to be the same as that of one with lesser experience. On a similar note, an attorney from a highly recommended and reputable law firm will charge more than an attorney just starting his or her career in criminal and immigration law.
Best Immigration Criminal Lawyer
At Tadeo & Silva Law, our wish is that whatever criminal charges you are being charged with will be efficiently settled without you losing your green card or visa. Our law firm will help you retain your confidence and help you maneuver through your case. We ensure that immigration authorities do not misapply the law and wrongly look into your conviction record to evaluate the offense committed.
As top-rated immigration criminal defense attorneys, our job is to represent you in a court of law and offer you legal advice throughout the process. Your immigration status will be the primary factor in the defense method we will choose for you as we understand the implication of your criminal charge on your status here in the United States.
If you have been charged with or even convicted of a crime, please gather all relevant criminal records and be sure to contact our Georgia law firm to learn more on how to protect your rights to stay in the United States. We may be able to also help you eliminate your criminal background. Get in touch with our criminal immigration lawyers today, and let us start working on your case before it is too late.
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