Crimmigration is a type of immigration law that deals with immigration criminal charges and the consequences on a person’s immigration status.
What is Crimmigration?
Crimmigration is a mix between two types of law – immigration and criminal defense. The term itself was coined sometime during the 1980s. Although citizens and non-citizens were treated the same for misdemeanors and felonies, regardless of citizenship status, during the late 80’s non-citizens started to face immigration consequences for their criminal charges. Immigration law is continuously changing, so it’s more important than ever to get up to date legal advice and answers to your sensitive immigration questions. By working with our award winning Atlanta deportation lawyer, you can rest assured you’re getting the best legal counsel that can guide you through the process of criminal immigration defense.
Understanding Crimmigration
Crimmigration, as a blend between immigration law and criminal law allows local or state-level law enforcement and other government agencies to police both elements of the law, either implicitly or openly. Local law enforcement tends to engage in different legal activities which may not be their primary duty.
The History of Crimmigration
The term itself refers to the mix and blend of two separate systems of law – immigration law and criminal law. For most of the USA’s history, these systems operated independently of one another. State and federal judges, prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys would work on cases related to state and federal laws.
Immigration law on the other hand was limited to immigration courts and immigration lawyers and judges as well as prosecutors, which were hired directly by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
If you or a family member is facing criminal charges that might affect your current immigration status, get legal help immediately! At Bhavya Chaudhary And Associates, our award winning criminal immigration attorney can help you with your criminal defense, if needed, along with your immigration legal rights. We believe that a solid and confidential lawyer-client relationship is the basis for success in any court and we are here to answer all of your sensitive crimmigration questions. Contact us today!
From Immigration to Crimmigration
Undocumented immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border are arrested, detained and deported more often than ever before. These cases tend to dominate all debates on immigration policy in the United States. The criminalization of illegal border crossing was more of an exception than a rule, up until the early 1990s. This was due to the fact that immigration issues were seen as civil affairs and, as such, were addressed through the immigration court system. On the other hand, criminal cases were handled by judges, defense counsels and prosecutors.
Beginning with the 1990s, detention, for example, was primarily recommended only for exceptional cases but it quickly became the norm along the Mexican border, with over 429,000 individuals being held for immigration procedures in 2011 alone. A migrant’s criminal background weighs heavily on the decision to deport or detain them.
Immigration Law & Criminal Defense
Immigration law and criminal defense usually become intertwined because non-citizens convicted of crimes also face severe immigration implications. These are additional punishments added to any fines or prison terms the individual faces.
Although felonies, misdemeanors and other minor offenses are distinguishable within the criminal justice system when it comes to citizens, the situation can be very different for non-citizens. Even smaller criminal offences such as stealing can lead to deportation or forced removal from the country.If you wish to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, our award-winning immigration lawyer will help you with all immigration matters. No matter your goals or your background, Bhavya Chaudhary And Associates is here to provide you the best legal advice. Contact us today to learn more!
