Last Updated: 05.04.2020
Hire a Maryland Attorney so you can avoid ICE
As a Maryland Lawyer who speaks Spanish fluently, I have encountered many Latino clients both with, and without, residency status in the USA who have violations of Maryland criminal laws pending that may affect their immigration status. Unlike other clients who do not have immigration issues, clients without citizenship, have much more to worry about. Depending on the nature of the charge, length of the maximum penalty, and type of immigration status; there are a host of possibilities as to how your Maryland criminal laws violation can be handled in light of the immigration consequences.
Maryland Lawyer – not the same as Immigration Lawyer, and Vice-Versa
I was in court last week and was horrified as I watched a Maryland lawyer plead his client to marijuana paraphernalia (smoking pipe) instead of the marijuana possession charge. The Maryland lawyer explained to the client that paraphernalia was only a fineable offense, so the client was getting a good plea deal, and would not have any immigration issue.
Normally, that would be a good plea, but the Maryland lawyer was WRONG, because even though marijuana carries 1 year incarceration as the maximum penalty, immigration law views paraphernalia and marijuana possession as drug offenses, without distinction. Thus a plea to either charge could result in immigration consequences. As such, you need a Maryland Lawyer who can handle your Maryland criminal laws or Maryland traffic laws, and does not hamper your ability to stay in this country because they do not know the law.
2 Maryland Lawyers are better than 1
If you are arrested on charges of violating Maryland criminal laws, and as a result, are worried about your immigration status, you need to speak with a Maryland Lawyer from our firm immediately. Please understand that both criminal law, and immigration law, are highly technical fields of practice, and most attorneys do not practice both. Everyone has heard of the saying “Jack of all trades, Master of nothing.” In my experience, lawyers who say they do everything, do nothing well.
Our suggestion…
We regularly work with clients who face immigration issues here at the Law Offices of Eldridge & Crandell. We know how to help you. If you are facing criminal charges, and have immigration issues, come see your favorite Maryland Lawyer from The Law Offices of Eldridge & Crandell, LLC. We have a network of immigration attorneys at our disposal who work together with our firm such that both the criminal and immigration issues are handled correctly.