Criminal Defense of Immigrants

A finding of juvenile delinquency will generally not affect a noncitizen’s immigration status, trigger removal, or disqualify a noncitizen from relief.  See § 12.2, supra.  This is not always true, however, such as where the ground of removal is based on conduct, rather than a conviction.  See § § 12.4-12.24, supra.  In rare cases, a finding of juvenile delinquency may disqualify a noncitizen from relief from removal.[523]

                As with adult clients, defense counsel may have issues relating to immigration detention pending removal,[524] and may need to ask the DHS to allow a juvenile court to obtain jurisdiction over a juvenile client.[525]

[523] See, e.g., § § 24.8, 24.26, infra.

[524] See § 15.45, infra.  See also Chapter 6, supra.

[525] See § 24.30, infra.