Criminal Defense of Immigrants

Chapter

§5.1 I. Introduction
§5.2 A. In General
§5.3 B. 3 Areas of Litigation
§5.4 C. Outline
§5.5 II. Criminal Defense of Current Case
§5.6 A. Basic Goals
§5.7 1. Minimizing Criminal Consequences
§5.8 2. Minimizing Immigration and Other Collateral Consequences
§5.9 3. Balancing Conflicting Goals
§5.10 B. 5 Steps
§5.11 1. Client's Immigration Status
§5.12 2. Expert Assistance or Information
§5.13 3. Client's Priorities
§5.14 4. Defense Strategy
§5.15 5. Continuing Consultation
§5.16 C. Development of a Strategy
§5.17 1. Chronology
§5.18 2. Analysis of the Problem
§5.19 3. Finding a Solution
§5.20 4. Evaluation of Chances of Success
§5.21 D. Defense of Criminal Case
§5.22 1. Deportability
§5.23 2. Inadmissibility
§5.24 3. Eligibility for Relief
§5.25 4. Multiple Charges or Cases
§5.26 E. Identification of Safe Haven
§5.27 1. Non-Conviction Disposition
§5.28 2. Non-Deportable Disposition
§5.29 3. Non-Deportable Sentence
§5.30 4. Conduct-Based Immigration Consequences
§5.31 5. Eligibility for Relief
§5.32 F. Construction of Safe Haven
§5.33 III. Post-Conviction Relief
§5.34 A. List of Prior Convictions
§5.35 B. Immigration Effect
§5.36 C. Minimum Necessary Changes
§5.37 D. Ingredients for Success
§5.38 E. Evaluation of Chances of Success
§5.39 F. Criminal Reprosecution
§5.40 1. In General
§5.41 2. Criminal Consequences
§5.42 3. Immigration Consequences
§5.43 IV. Concluding the Representation

§ 5.28 (F)

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(F) Unrelated Offenses. If no safe haven can be found in this range of offenses, it may be necessary to find a completely unrelated safe haven and try to sell the prosecution and court on it as a plea bargain, if deportation is to be avoided. This practice is not uncommon for relatively minor offenses. For example, in California, a plea to disturbing the peace is a common unrelated lesser offense to an original charge of soliciting an act of prostitution.