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CLEVELAND, OHIO - Pleading guilty in court can mean a ticket back to your native country if you are not a U.S. citizen.

"One of the things that a criminal defendant who's not a citizen must understand is that by pleading guilty to most offenses, it could set them up for being placed into deportation proceedings," said Jonathan Bartell, a Cleveland H1B lawyer. "Whether it's a felony or misdemeanor, or whether you do a single second of jail time as a result of it, you could be deported."

If you, a family member or friend are confronted with being deported for immigration violations or criminal charges, the Law Firm of Jonathan A. Bartell has offices around the country who can help.  Attorneys are available 24 hours a day and offer free consultations. Bartell and his lawyers prepare the best defense for immigration, naturalization and deportation cases involving clients who can be deported for certain criminal convictions, overstaying visas, entering the U.S. illegally, and providing false information on documents.

"You have significant legal rights, whether you're here as a legal permanent resident, on a non-immigrant visa, or in the U.S. illegally," said asylum lawyer Jonathan Bartell.  He said each case varies depending on the crime. Considering factors that determine if deportation proceedings will occur include what type of offense it is, the dollar value set, and possible jail time.

If you are a legal or illegal immigrant being threatened with deportation and removal because you have been charged with an aggravated felony or you have been convicted twice of a misdemeanor, you should call us. Many misdemeanors now qualify as an aggravated felony under current immigration law. Deportable felonies include drunk driving, domestic violence and theft, he said, referring to the immigration consequences associated with convictions or guilty pleas.

"Serious criminals should be deported, as should those who pose national security risks," Bartell said. "That being said, I don't believe that folks should be removed just because they committed a crime. 

"Someone who possesses drugs or does a single, non-violent offense shouldn't be removed either," he said. "It's a very complex issue and I believe that every case is different and unique."

Some cases immigration attorneys also handle include obtaining a K1 visa, along with other forms of non-immigrant visas for students, family members and workers.  Bartell, a Thai-speaking immigration attorney whose wife is Thai, wants people to understand the importance of entering plea negotiations without considering the full ramifications.

He encourages non-citizens who find themselves in trouble with the law to speak with an immigration attorney to determine if the plea will have implications of deportation. "Understand if you enter a plea, you could find yourself on a fast train to your home country with no opportunity to get back in to the states," said Bartell who is also a deportation lawyer.

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