DUI, Drugs, and travel outside the US (immigration) -- what the heck!?

The Trump Administration has nothing on anti-immigrant sentiment from the lat 19th century. Mr. William Windom was Treasury secretary at the end of the 19th century. In the 1880's, he proposed making Ellis Island a holding location for European immigrants. It was not popular, for among other reaons, the problems they brought and the jobs they took.
See: http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/51/v51i03p099-109.pdf

What happens if you are convicted of a DUI (driving under the influence) based on drugs. An interesting discussion. If you have digested a drug, are you in possession of that drug for immigration purposes?

An attorney at the firm presented the following scenario on Friday:
A client of ours, pled to that DUI (Xanax) in Arlington. He’s been LPR for 12 years, and the only things on his record are a Reckless Driving and the DUI, both from 2016. He wants to know about naturalization. My thought on this is that his only potential question has to do with Good Moral Character, and he should probably get some help explaining that he is a person of good moral character when he submits his N-400.

Here are Steve's (ye olde attorney) discussion points:

a. First of all, don’t travel outside of the US right now. He can totally get picked up on the way back in.
b. Get everything associated with the DUI (ASAP, Restricted OL, etc.) taken care of and get clear of “court supervision,” which will be done in about 12 months.
c. Once he is fully clear of the DUI matter, get his ass into our office so we can help him get to work on his N-400. I wonder if you think he should even wait a little bit longer to apply to naturalize than I am suggesting.
d. Do you know if a LPR with convictions could wind up in Removal Proceedings by getting the attention of USCIS with the submission of a N-400?

My answer:
So the bottom line is this: a drug conviction is a permanent bar to naturalization, and a cause célèbre for deportation – even for an LPR. The code that deals with this is INA § 237(a)(2)(B)(i) (deportability). Admissibility is covered under State Manual on approving entry visas (see also: INA 212 drug convictions dealing with admissability).

Xanax is a schedule IV controlled substance as defined by 21 U.S.C. 802. Apparently, it is has low probability for abuse. Also, an argument can be made that a DUI is not a drug offense per se, and if there is no inquiry into what type of DUI it was, it may be possible to submit a disposition paper without mentioning xanax at all (the N400 adjudicator does not generally inquire into the substance of the offense if a disposition is provided). To constitute a drug offense, the statute is clear - you must be convicted of possession or distribution. There is nothing saying that ingestion constitutes possession under Federal Law.

As for good moral conduct, Ragoonanan v. USCIS, a 2007 US district court case out of Minnesota, held that one DUI conviction that results in a year of probation does not bar a good moral character finding. I’m not sure if the 4th Circuit has followed suit, but probably. You should expect a denial, followed by an appeal. It is important to show rehabilitation and regular ameliorating actions.

Do you have a question about DUI's, drug possession, or naturalization? Ask us! You may reach us at 1-800-579-9864 or admin@hanoverlawpc.com.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax (VA), Resiterstown (MD), and Washington (DC)
www.hanoverlawpc.com
Central Office: 2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Joey Tutone, Esq. Charlet Herr, Practice Manager Catherine Aguirre, Marketing and Bilingual Specialist
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com

Drug use and the I-485

Section 3 of the I-485 -- asking about drugs.

I had a chance to help a fellow practitioner the other day, and I thought I would share his question so others might benefit, too!

You do a ton of litigation, and I also know you are helpful to newer practitioners. I'm a newer practitioner, so I hope you don't mind me asking a question about AOS. My question is about the I-485 question in Part 3.C.1.a. "Have you ever, in or outside the United States: a. Knowingly committed...a drug-related offense for which you have not been arrested." I am trying to figure out how it comports with INA 212(a)(2)(i)(II). That section deals with inadmissibility relating to "admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of" a drug-related offense." Are these two related?

This all comes about because of a client's discussion with me. If a client tells you they used drugs, do you think you are obligated to check "Yes" to Part 3.C.1.a.? Or do you think "Yes" requires something more than just your knowledge the client used drugs?

Your question fits into the general category or “once the cat is out of the bag (to the lawyer), am I obligated to do something about it?” The answer is…sometimes.

Generally, in order for you to take action on what you client says, it needs to be clearly and unequivocally a violation of some rule or law. And even then, you are not obligated to disclose it; rather you cannot sign or submit something that you know contains a material misstatement. The distinction is important. What the client chooses to say at, say a interview, or open Court, is up to the client. However, you cannot submit, under your signature, or as a proffer, something you know to be false.

To bring this back to your question – merely using drugs may or may not be illegal back in this person’s home country. You are not a lawyer (presumably) from his/her home country, so you can’t say for certain whether his/her action rises to the level of requiring a “yes” answer to 3.C.1. By the way, 3.C.1 is absolutely NOT the same as INA 212(a)(2)(i)(II). 3.C.1 has a “knowing” requirement that is absent in 212(a)(2)(i)(II) – and that is a significant difference in the criminal world.

Again, back to your question – unless the individual indicated, “yes, I have knowingly committed a drug offense in my home country” the answer would be – “I can’t say whether that is a drug offense in your home country, as I don’t practice law there. You can answer this question “No” if you believe it is not an offense, or you can contact a lawyer in your home country to get information on whether this is an offense or not.”

As a practical matter, unless he was arrested, or charged, there won’t be a record of anything. The risk here is minimal (in terms of USCIS learning of his prior drug use, absent an arrest or conviction). Now, if you have a dummy for a client who intends to blurt out that they like to smoke weed and do crack back in Fez – well, all bets are off.

Do you have an immigration question? Ask us! We're happy to help. We've handled immigration defense and filing for many years -- and we're glad to bring our expertise to bear for your case. 1-800-579-9864 or admin@hanoverlawpc.com.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
www.hanoverlawpc.com
2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq. Charlet Herr, Practice Manager
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com

Criminal Consequence for Immigration -- a snapshot

I recently had a great discussion with a colleague of mine regarding criminal/immigration consequences. I thought I would post the distilled form of the discussion here. By the way, if you need a great immigration attorney in New Jersey, be sure to contact Ms. Yolanda Navarrete, Esq. at 973-984-0800.

The conversation began with a question about immigration consequence:

Hypothetical client is detained in county jail, due to DV charges. The girlfriend does not want to press charges, by the DA is moving forward. The state is offering harassment as a plea agreement. This person is desperate to get out of jail. There's an "immigration hold" (means that ICE has placed a detainer on him) so bail is not practical. Should I make him wait for trial, or will pleading to harassment make him (undocumented but has a USC baby) an enforcement priority?

I responded:
Harassment of a family member could potentially make you a domestic violence (DV) removal priority. Actually, though, I would strongly advocate for sitting on this hypothetical client's head and not letting him (or her!) plea to anything. It can be very hard, but no desire to get out can offset a dismissal.

Next question:

How about pleaing to criminal mischief (admitting to breaking a cell phone or other personal effect)?

Answer:
Probably a lot safer in regards to an object. The issue is to avoid any kind of domestic abuse issue, or provide evidence the DHS attorney could use to that effect.

Destruction of personal effects is childish, but does not amount (arguably) to domestic abuse. Harassment, however, is the traditional precursor to a protective order, which would be extremely bad. No to harassment, a qualified "okay" to destruction of property <$100 (I believe you call that criminal mischief). Better still if the plea colloquia just stated destruction of a cell phone, without reference to the other party -- but that could be asking too much.

Do you have an immigration question or removal defense problem? Contact us -- consultation is free! 1-800-579-9864 or admin@hanoverlawpc.com.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
www.hanoverlawpc.com
2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq.
1-800-579-9864 admin@hanoverlawpc.com

How to prepare an immigration relief matrix

This is a brief post today -- but I had a great question from a fellow practitioner, and I know it was a problem for me, too, when I first started practicing. This advice applies to immigration court relief, but oddly, is the same (largely) tactic taken for sentencing defense and allocution.

How It's Done

St. Jude is our patron over here at Hanover Law, so I know the pain you are experiencing. First thing first…you need to make a criminal chart. We do these all the time for sentencing (determining the “point score” for penalty purposes) – but you need them in immigration, too. You mentioned a passel of possible problems (criminal).

• Begin with a list of the charges he has had on the left side of the chart, one after the other.
  Across the top, place the following columns: date charged, date of disposition, max penalty, actual disposition, completed? , Immigration consequence (aggravated felony, CIMT, other)
• Create a second chart entitled “Immigration Engagements”.
  On the left, place the name of each Court, or events (for example, “Immigration Court, York”, or “EWI – entry Texas”). Across the top, place a column each for “Event Date (NTA served, EWI’ed, etc.)”, “Date Resolved (dispotion, admitted legally, ect.)”

When you have both of these charts, then you can plan the appropriate defense. Appropriate defenses include cancellation of removal, 212(c) relief, prosecutorial discretion, DAP/DACA and other deferments, and various types of asylum, to name just a few.

If you have gotten this far, and your charts are assembled, give me a ring! I can help work out what relief is appropriate.

Hanover Law, PC
Offices in Fairfax, VA and Washington, DC
www.hanoverlawpc.com		Lili O'connell, Esq. Abby Archer, Esq.
888 16th St., NW Ste 800 Washington, DC 20006	2751 Prosperity Ave, Ste 150 Fairfax, VA 22031	Sean R. Hanover, Esq. Stephen Salwierak, Esq.
1-800-579-9864	admin@hanoverlawpc.com	Charles Hatley, Esq.