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Immigrant Client Facing Criminal Charges? |
If you are not a naturalized U.S. citizen and face criminal charges in Ohio or anywhere in the United States, it is critical that you obtain legal advice regarding your immigrant status before pleading guilty or standing trial for any criminal charge.
Jonathan Bartell practices both U.S. immigration law and criminal defense. He can explain your rights and the serious immigration repercussions. The Law Firm of Jonathan A. Bartell is based in Cleveland, Ohio and represents immigrants statewide and nationwide in criminal proceedings and deportation or removal proceedings.
Fierce Representation of Your Rights
Even if you are not a U.S. citizen, you have many legal rights. The firm represents any non-citizen charged with a crime, including:
- Permanent legal residents (green card holders)
- Non-immigrant visa holders
A conviction or guilty plea to a low-level felony or even some misdemeanors can lead to deportation. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIR-IRA) expanded the list of aggravated felony convictions that are viewed as deportable offenses. You can also be deported for conviction of two misdemeanor crimes. It is imperative to contact an immigrant criminal defense lawyer before entering a guilty plea for a "minor" offense, or to make sure your attorney is aware of the possible danger to your residency status.
Note: Even if you are not deported, criminal convictions can affect your naturalization application to become a U.S. citizen.
Under the IIR-IRA, resident aliens may be denied an opportunity for habeas corpus federal court review. This could lead to the detainment of a resident alien for an aggravated felony conviction and that alien could not go to a federal court on a writ of habeas corpus to seek relief. Such a person can be held without bond — one client was detained for two years before his removal hearing.
Jonathan A. Bartell prevailed in an important immigration law case before the Ohio Supreme Court. The ruling in favor of his client affirmed that a non-citizen must be informed by prosecutors that a criminal conviction may impact their ability to stay in the United States. As a result of the court's ruling, his client was allowed to withdraw a guilty plea to a crime from years earlier that might have led to her deportation.
Many crimes such as drunk driving (DUI), drug possession, theft, and domestic violence are considered deportable felonies under IIR-IRA. Even if the charges are dropped in favor of a pre-trial diversion, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) considers it a conviction and thus a visa violation. If you are charged with an aggravated felony covered under IIR-IRA, the Law Firm of Jonathan A. Bartell will fight the charges or try to negotiate a plea to a lesser offense that will not jeopardize your immigrant status.
He Knows Criminal Law and Immigration Law
Contact an immigrant criminal defense lawyer who will aggressively protect your rights and stand by you for as long as it takes. The Law Firm of Jonathan A. Bartell offers a free initial consultation at 1-866-467-5292, and the attorney and staff speak Russian, Thai, and Laotian fluently.
