U.S. immigrants face tougher regulations this year as the latest immigration regulations instruct immigration and customs agents to prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants with criminal records or those accused of criminal offenses. The rules do not distinguish between a misdemeanor or felony conviction, making it possible for immigration officers to deport anyone convicted of minor infractions such as driving without a valid driver’s license.
Enforcement of Immigration Laws 2017
The Homeland Security memo entitled “Enforcement of the Immigration Laws to Serve the National Interest” was issued on February 20, 2017. It contains specific instructions to deport illegal aliens who:
- Have been charged with any criminal offense
- Have been convicted of any criminal offense
- Have engaged in fraud or wilful misrepresentation before a government agency
- Have committed any act that may be charged as a criminal offense
Reported ICE Arrests
Following the issuance of the new immigration regulations, hundreds of people allegedly criminal undocumented immigrants were arrested in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the country, including D.C. Thousands of arrests are expected to take place in the succeeding weeks as the government has already announced its plans to recruit and deploy thousands of agents who will aggressively implement the new immigration regulations.
What to Do If Arrested
If you are an immigrant under investigation for any offense in Washington, D.C., it’s important to know your rights as an accused and to get the best criminal defense for your case.
Pleading guilty even for a minor offense may not always be your best option in light of the new immigration regulations. Anyone accused of committing a crime is entitled to raise criminal defenses in their favor.
Contact an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately and discuss all your legal options before entering a plea and signing any document in connection with your charge. Your lawyer can examine all the angles of your situation and fight for your rights before the prosecutor and if necessary, in court.
At Lotze Mosley, LLP, our Washington, D.C. criminal defense attorneys have been defending clients against criminal charges since 1993. We understand the life-changing consequences of a criminal charge and are prepared to provide competent aggressive legal representation to defeat a charge at the earliest possible time. We have helped clients who were suspected or facing charges for gun crimes, violent crimes, drug crimes, fraud, and traffic offenses. Call us today at (202) 393-0535 and let us help you.
