Criminal charges and worried about your immigration status?

What is happening

• A guilty plea in state court can carry immigration consequences even when the charge looks minor and even when there is no jail time.
• What matters for immigration is the exact statute you are convicted under, what the court record says, and the possible sentence, not only the one you received.
• Many people take a plea to "get it over with" and discover the problem months later, in a residency application, a renewal, or a deportation hearing.

What the attorney does

• Before any plea, analyzes how each option would affect your current status and the applications you plan to file.
• Negotiates with the prosecutor for a resolution of the criminal case that does not open an immigration problem, when that option exists.
• If you already have a conviction, reviews whether there is any path to correct it or limit its immigration effect, and tells you plainly if there is not.

What to bring to the consultation

• The complaint or citation and any plea offer you have received.
• Your exact immigration status: residency, permit, pending application, or no status.
• Papers from any earlier criminal case, even if closed.
• Pending court dates in both systems.

Common questions

Can a misdemeanor affect my papers?

Yes. Immigration law has its own categories, and a misdemeanor can fall into one of them depending on the exact statute and the court record.

I already have a criminal lawyer. Why would I need another?

You can keep your lawyer. What you need is someone to analyze the immigration effect of each option before you accept it. Lugo Law LLC can do that analysis or handle the whole case.

What if I already pleaded guilty?

Bring the case documents. Some convictions can be revisited; others cannot. Knowing early lets you plan.