{"id":12063,"date":"2025-03-29T09:29:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T09:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/?p=12063"},"modified":"2025-03-29T09:29:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-29T09:29:19","slug":"how-non-citizens-can-avoid-deportation-after-an-arrest-under-the-laken-riley-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/how-non-citizens-can-avoid-deportation-after-an-arrest-under-the-laken-riley-act\/","title":{"rendered":"How Non-Citizens Can Avoid Deportation After an Arrest Under the Laken Riley Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re not a U.S. citizen and you&#8217;ve been arrested\u2014even for a minor charge\u2014you may now face immediate immigration consequences under the <strong>Laken Riley Act<\/strong>. This new law gives ICE the authority to detain non-citizens based solely on an arrest by state or local law enforcement, even if no conviction has occurred.<\/p>\n<p>For immigrants in California, criminal cases and immigration risks are now tightly connected. Here\u2019s what you need to know to protect your rights\u2014and stay in the country.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What Changed Under the Laken Riley Act?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ice.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">ICE<\/a> can detain you <strong>immediately after an arrest<\/strong>\u2014you don\u2019t need to be convicted first.<\/li>\n<li>Local law enforcement may be under increased pressure to <strong>notify ICE<\/strong> of your arrest.<\/li>\n<li>Charges that previously wouldn\u2019t trigger immigration action may now lead to <strong>deportation proceedings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 1: Remain Silent About Immigration Status<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Do <strong>not<\/strong> speak to police, jail staff, or ICE about:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your place of birth<\/li>\n<li>Your immigration status<\/li>\n<li>How or when you entered the U.S.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>You have the right to remain silent.<\/strong> Use it.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Step 2: Get a Criminal Defense Attorney Who Knows Immigration Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Many criminal defense lawyers don\u2019t fully understand how a charge\u2014or a plea deal\u2014can affect your immigration status.<\/p>\n<p>As a defense attorney experienced in representing immigrants, I work to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Avoid convictions that trigger deportation<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Negotiate \u201cimmigration-safe\u201d pleas<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Collaborate with immigration attorneys<\/strong> when needed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 3: Don\u2019t Plead Guilty Without a Full Immigration Review<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Even if the DA offers a \u201cgood deal,\u201d <strong>don\u2019t take it until we\u2019ve reviewed the immigration impact<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>A conviction\u2014even for a misdemeanor\u2014could:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lead to deportation<\/li>\n<li>Disqualify you from a green card or citizenship<\/li>\n<li>Trigger mandatory ICE detention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 4: Know the Charges That Can Get You Deported<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Immigration law is stricter than state law. Many offenses that seem \u201cminor\u201d under California law can carry <strong>major immigration penalties<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Aggravated Felonies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>(Trigger automatic deportation)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Drug trafficking (H&amp;S \u00a711351, \u00a711352)<\/li>\n<li>Robbery, burglary with violence<\/li>\n<li>Fraud over $10,000<\/li>\n<li>Firearms trafficking<\/li>\n<li>Sexual abuse of a minor<\/li>\n<li>Perjury, obstruction of justice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMTs)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>(One CIMT can trigger removal if committed within 5 years of entry)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Theft (Penal Code \u00a7484, \u00a7488)<\/li>\n<li>Domestic violence (PC \u00a7273.5, \u00a7243(e)(1))<\/li>\n<li>Fraud (checks, benefits, insurance)<\/li>\n<li>Assault, battery, or vandalism with intent<\/li>\n<li>Prostitution-related offenses<\/li>\n<li>Child endangerment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Drug Offenses<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Simple possession (H&amp;S \u00a711350)<\/li>\n<li>Possession for sale (H&amp;S \u00a711351)<\/li>\n<li>Drug paraphernalia (H&amp;S \u00a711364)<\/li>\n<li>Being under the influence (H&amp;S \u00a711550)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em>Even diversion programs may count as convictions under immigration law.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Firearms &amp; Violence-Related Offenses<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Possessing illegal firearms<\/li>\n<li>Brandishing a weapon<\/li>\n<li>Domestic battery<\/li>\n<li>Stalking (PC \u00a7646.9)<\/li>\n<li>Protective order violations (PC \u00a7273.6)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 5: Be Aware of ICE Detainers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Even if you&#8217;re cleared to go home after posting bail, ICE can issue a <strong>detainer<\/strong> asking the jail to keep you until they pick you up.<\/p>\n<p>In California, <strong>SB 54<\/strong> limits some cooperation with ICE\u2014but that protection is now weakened.<\/p>\n<p>We act fast to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Fight ICE holds<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Secure release before ICE gets involved<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep clients out of ICE custody\n<p><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 6: We Can Help Even After a Conviction<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Already have a conviction? You still have options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vacate the conviction<\/strong> under PC \u00a71473.7 if you weren\u2019t warned about immigration consequences<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reduce a felony to a misdemeanor<\/strong> under PC \u00a717(b)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Request a Governor\u2019s pardon<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Challenge ineffective assistance of prior counsel\n<p><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Step 7: Know What to Do If ICE Shows Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>If ICE agents come to your door:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t open the door<\/strong> unless they have a judicial warrant<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t speak to them<\/strong> without a lawyer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t sign anything<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Stay calm. Call your attorney immediately.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Step 8: Be Prepared<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Keep these with you at all times:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A copy of your immigration paperwork (visa, green card, DACA, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>A list of emergency contacts<\/li>\n<li>My business card or phone number<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019re detained, your loved ones will know who to call.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Final Thoughts: One Arrest Shouldn\u2019t Ruin Your Future<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Under the <a href=\"https:\/\/calvert.house.gov\/media\/press-releases\/rep-calvert-votes-laken-riley-act-protect-americans\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Laken Riley Act<\/a>, even a first-time arrest can open the door to deportation. But <strong>you still have rights\u2014and options.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The most important thing you can do:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t speak. Don\u2019t plead guilty. Call a lawyer who understands immigration consequences.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Need Help?<\/strong> Contact <a href=\"\/en\/criminal-defense\/\">Attorney Daniel Deng<\/a> Today<\/p>\n<p>If you or a loved one has been arrested and isn\u2019t a U.S. citizen, call my office immediately. We\u2019ll help you protect your rights\u2014and your future in this country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re not a U.S. citizen and you&#8217;ve been arrested\u2014even for a minor charge\u2014you may now face immediate immigration consequences under the Laken Riley Act. This new law gives ICE the authority to detain non-citizens based solely on an arrest by state or local law enforcement, even if no conviction has occurred. For immigrants in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":12066,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-12063","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-criminal-defense","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12063"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12075,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12063\/revisions\/12075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12066"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12063"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/denglaw.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}