If you’re not a U.S. citizen and you’ve been charged with a crime in Pennsylvania, the stakes are much higher than you may realize. Beyond the legal penalties, such as fines, probation or jail time, deportation is a real possibility. Your entire future in the U.S. could be on the line.
Taking a plea deal to resolve your case quickly won’t necessarily help you avoid deportation. Simply put, there are no guarantees or predetermined outcomes for everyone. Here’s more on this.
A plea deal can help or hurt your immigration status
When you accept a plea deal, you’re usually admitting guilt. That admission can be enough to count as a conviction for immigration purposes, even if you avoid jail time. What may seem like a favorable outcome in criminal court can trigger serious immigration consequences.
Immigration law doesn’t focus on how light your sentence is. It focuses on whether you have a conviction and the classification of the offense. As such, a reduced charge may still be deportable, and a suspended sentence can still count. The same applies if you pleaded guilty and received probation instead of prison sentence.
That said, there are instances when a plea deal can help. For instance, if the deal involves pleading guilty to a non-deportable offense, it may reduce or even eliminate the risk of removal.
Get experienced legal guidance
You don’t want to take unnecessary risks or gamble on your future if you’re in such a situation. Before accepting a plea deal, it’s important to understand your legal rights and the potential implications of your decision. That way, you can make the best decision for both your criminal case and your immigration future.