A criminal conviction can have many different consequences, from time in jail to costly fines. Even if you are able to avoid jail time and simply get probation, there still may be other collateral consequences that may affect your life in the long-term. Some collateral consequences can include sex offender registration, inability to own a firearm or vote, and more. One collateral consequence that may be of extreme importance to someone in Florida is related to immigration.
If you are convicted of a certain type of crime–such as drug charges or crime of moral turpitude–the case will likely be reported to the U.S. immigration officials, among other parties. Immigration officials will then determine whether or not your conviction renders you ineligible for your visa or green card. If your conviction is serious enough, the officials can pick you up and detain you in an immigration prison. They can then initiate proceedings against you for possible deportation or removal from the U.S. If you are removed, you may be separated from your family, may lose your job, and may not be able to return to the U.S. lawfully.
Deciding Whether Or Not To Plead Guilty
Immigration consequences often come into play when you must decide whether or not to accept a plea bargain. When you accept an offer in exchange for a guilty plea, you may not even consider the possible immigration consequences such as being separated from your family. You may not realize what you have done until it is too late and proceedings are under way.
There is one way to seek relief after you have received information regarding your guilty plea and possible immigration consequences. If your attorney failed to fully and clearly explain the possible circumstances but instead allowed you to plead guilty in the face of serious immigration issues, you may be able to withdraw your guilty plea by claiming you had ineffective assistance of counsel. However, it is always easier to have high-quality assistance from the start so that you do not have to go through a lengthy appeal process.
Contact an Experienced Boca Raton Criminal Defense Lawyer Today
When you seek help from a criminal defense attorney in Florida, you want to be sure that they will carefully review your case and will foresee any legal issue that may arise. One such common legal issue in Florida is possible deportation, removal, or other adverse immigration consequences. If you are not a United States citizen and you have been arrested, you need an attorney handling your case who will thoroughly address any possible immigration or other consequences. These consequences should be a big part of your decision to plead guilty or not.
The criminal defense attorneys at the Boca Raton law office of Lavalle, Brown & Ronan understand how much unexpected immigration consequences can affect your life. We will always go over all possible consequences of a particular guilty plea and can provide valuable advice on whether or not to plead guilty. If you are facing criminal charges, call our office today at 888-646-1315 for assistance.