Immigration Consequences

Domestic Violence’s Immigration Consequences

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Family Assault or Domestic Violence

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Domestic Violence’s Immigration Consequences Are Very Serious

If you are not a US citizen and have been charged anywhere in Texas with a crime of domestic violence, you may wonder if these are deportable offenses. The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” Any non-citizen who, at any time after admission into the United States, is convicted of a crime of domestic violence or stalking is deportable.

You are right to worry about your immigration status if you have been accused of violent actions against your wife, husband, or domestic partner. For a free initial consultation with an experienced, understanding criminal defense lawyer, contact the Houston law firm of Stradley, Chernoff & Alford, L.L.P.

The Definition of Domestic Violence for Immigration Purposes

Section 16 of Title 18 of the United States Code defines “crime of domestic violence” as any crime of violence against a current or former spouse, a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the alien as a spouse, or a person with which the alien shares a child in common. Further, any non-citizen who violates a protective order is deportable.

The definition of “conviction” includes a guilty plea or deferred adjudication. This means that the only way a non-citizen can avoid the possibility of deportation is to have his charges dismissed or be acquitted at trial.

Advice to Aliens Charged with Domestic Violence:

Hire an Experienced Family Assault Lawyer

Obviously, the stakes are high. A non-citizen – legal or illegal – should be very careful when charged with a crime of domestic violence. At Stradley, Chernoff & Alford, L.L.P., our attorneys are former criminal prosecutors who are board-certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

To discuss your charges of domestic violence and their immigration consequences with a lawyer, free of charge, contact Stradley, Chernoff & Alford, L.L.P.