As an immigrant, a criminal charge can easily jeopardize your standing with the border control agency. This is why you need to hire a reputable lawyer like those found at The Medlin Law Firm when accused of a crime as an immigrant. Aside from the fact that criminal law is complicated, it’s also prone to changes. So it would be best if you had a lawyer who could stay ahead of things.
In case you are wondering how criminal charges can affect your immigration proceedings, then keep reading. In this post, we will list some crimes and how they can affect your process. We will also talk about your rights as an immigrant.
Misdemeanor Crimes
A misdemeanor charge refers to a criminal offense that is considered mild, like a DUI or an assault. As simple as these cases may seem, they could affect an immigration proceeding. They can prevent an immigrant from maintaining a lawful immigration status or make them ineligible for citizenship or residency. This indicates that an immigration officer will consider these crimes when deciding if an immigrant qualifies for immigration benefits.
Felony Crimes
Felony crimes are serious offenses that often take weeks or months before being resolved in law court. Some vital examples of these cases include arson and kidnapping. Having a felony conviction can have a huge negative impact on your immigration processing.
Your Rights As A Suspect
Right To Remain Silent
Being a suspect doesn’t mean you automatically lose the right to talk or not to talk as you please. However, as a suspect, you should avoid talking to a law enforcement agency unless your attorney is present.
Right To Privacy
A suspect also has the right to privacy. This means they have protection against unreasonable searches and property seizures. You have the right to deny a police officer from searching your building, car, or other belongings if they don’t have a search warrant.
Right To Leave
If a police officer stops you, it could be because they want to arrest or question you. If you’re not being arrested and they didn’t read your Miranda rights to you, it’s best to leave. But before doing so, ask the officer directly about their intention towards you.
Right To An Attorney
Every suspect has the right to hire an attorney to serve as their legal representative. If you deny yourself this right, there’s a high possibility that you won’t get the best outcome from your case. Only a qualified criminal lawyer can help you navigate the complex legal procedure associated with criminal charges safely and easily.
When To Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer
A common mistake you should avoid is only seeking out a lawyer when your trial is near. One of the major advantages of talking to a legal expert on time is that they could help get your criminal charges list dismissed even before formal charges are made against you. So you see why timing is crucial when hiring a criminal defense attorney? After your arrest, the next person you should talk to is your criminal defense attorney.
Essential Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer
Experience is key in all aspects of law, including criminal defense. So if you want to boost your chances of staying out of jail after a criminal charge, the services of an experienced criminal lawyer are needed. In fact, you need one who has specifically handled your kind of case before. So always ask a potential how experienced they are with handling a case like yours.
As important as it is to ask if your criminal lawyer has the right kind of experience, you also need to know their educational qualifications.
You should also ask your attorney if they can show you testimonials or reviews from previous clients. If their answer is positive, it shows they’re confident about the services they offer. Qualified attorneys with satisfied clients usually have lots of written testimonials to offer prospective clients. They could also have testimonials from other ideal lawyers in your neighborhood.
Another smart question to ask a criminal defense lawyer before hiring is what defensive strategy they can propose for your case. Additionally, they should be able to outline these strategies and explain their reasons for choosing them. The better an attorney is at creating a defensive strategy, the more likely they are to help get a positive outcome for your case.
In conclusion, as an immigrant, staying out of crime or anything that could implicate you is key to you getting your citizenship. Although a good lawyer may be able to help you, it is still best to avoid the trouble.
