What are Georgia criminal defense options for non-citizens?
A criminal case in Georgia can carry particular consequences for a non-citizen, because a conviction may affect immigration status in addition to the criminal penalties. Addressing a case for a non-citizen involves attention to these potential collateral consequences.
Immigration consequences can be significant. Certain criminal convictions can carry immigration consequences, which exist alongside the penalties imposed in the criminal case. Awareness of how a particular charge or disposition may affect immigration status is central to handling such a case.
The nature of the disposition matters. Because different charges and outcomes can carry different immigration consequences, the specific charge and how a case is resolved can be significant. How a matter is disposed of, not only whether there is a conviction, can affect the collateral consequences, so two outcomes that look similar in the criminal case may carry very different immigration effects.
The advice regarding consequences is important. A defendant is generally entitled to be advised regarding the consequences of a plea, and the failure to provide accurate advice about certain consequences can itself be significant. The accuracy of advice about a case’s effects is relevant for a non-citizen, since a resolution that appears favorable in the criminal case can still carry serious and unintended immigration consequences.
Handling a criminal case for a non-citizen involves attention to potential immigration consequences alongside the criminal penalties. The immigration effects of a conviction, the significance of the specific disposition, and the importance of accurate advice are the considerations central to defending such a case.