Federal Crimes Immigration Consequences
Federal Crimes: Immigration Consequences of Federal Criminal Convictions
If you are not a U.S.-born citizen, and you have been contacted by federal agents as part of an investigation, the first thing you should do is to contact a federal criminal defense attorney because the immigration consequences of criminal convictions under our federal law can be extremely harsh on non-U.S. citizens. You can speak to one of our federal criminal lawyers at Wallin & Klarich today in order to find out how we can help you with your case.
In some instances, a person may or may not know if he/she is a U.S. citizen. For example, birth abroad does not automatically exclude U.S. citizenship because a person may acquire or derive U.S. citizenship from one or both parents.
The immigration code sections setting forth the rules on acquisition and derivation of citizenship are among the most difficult to decipher, and Congress frequently amends the relevant statutes, sometimes making the new provisions retroactive and sometimes prospective.
How to determine whether you acquired or derived U.S. citizenship
Whether an individual born abroad has acquired or derived U.S. citizenship turns on the confluence of several factors, including:
- Year of the person’s birth
- Whether both parents are U.S. citizens?
- If not, which parent?
- When the parent(s) became citizen(s)?
- The marital status of the parents
- If born out of wedlock, whether the person was legitimated?
- The length of time the citizen parent(s) resided in the U.S. prior to the person’s birth abroad
- Whether the person was legally admitted to or resided in the U.S.
- Whether the non-citizen’s parents, grandparents or great-grandparents were born in the U.S. or ever became naturalized U.S. citizens.
Contact our experienced federal criminal defense attorneys today
The immigration consequences of criminal convictions under the U.S. federal law can be severe. An experienced California federal criminal defense attorney at Wallin & Klarich can help you and your family if you are charged with a federal crime in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Victorville, West Covina or San Diego. With over 40 years of experience practicing federal criminal law, Wallin & Klarich will guide you and your family through this very difficult and serious matter.
We will get through this together. Call (877) 466-5245 or fill out our confidential case review form. We will be there when you call.
