Immigration authorities in the U.S. place a heavy emphasis on evaluating every person petitioning for citizenship. As such, it is important that you have a clean criminal record.
Are you currently in the process of obtaining your green card? A crime on your record can halt the process entirely and even put you at risk for deportation. Being convicted of a crime severely threatens your legal status, even if you are a citizen or permanent resident (green card holder).
Otherwise, if you are not a U.S. citizen yet and are still petitioning to become one, it is imperative that you contact Kanu & Associates, P.C. and our Phoenix criminal defense lawyer. The firm's focus is on helping immigrants who have been charged with crimes.
Crimes That Lead to the Loss of a Green Card
Every crime has a level of severity that the law considers more egregious than other types of crime. Some crimes have minor punishments—a warning, a fine, or a citation, as examples. The more serious crimes are the ones considered morally reprehensible or affect a large number of people.
Here are some examples of those crimes:
- Fraud
- Drug crimes
- Sexual assault
- Theft or robbery
- Money laundering
- Murder
- Illegal weapon possession
One of the ways we defend our clients is to argue and try to lessen the severity of your charges. Remember that prosecutors have the burden of proving every element of a criminal charge was present in order to secure a conviction. If that one element was not present, then they cannot proceed with the case.
For example, in a drug possession case, prosecutors must prove that you had some form of control and knowledge of the drug. You may not have been aware that the drug was found in your personal belongings. There will be countless other ways our Phoenix criminal defense lawyer can help you with your criminal case, especially if it is threatening your immigration status.
Contact Us Today at (602) 353-7795
Anyone who commits a crime and is convicted of it while in the process of obtaining a green card or are on the path towards citizenship know they face severe penalties if convicted of a crime. That is why Kanu & Associates, P.C. is here to help. If you have any questions about immigration and crime, and you need a legal solution, please call the firm today and schedule an appointment.
Case consultations are confidential and 100% complimentary. Schedule yours today!