Moones Mellouli came to the United States legally and became a lawful permanent resident. He went to college and attained multiple advanced educational degrees and became a professor. In 2009 he was arrested for DUI and the police found Adderall pills in his sock. Adderall is a drug that requires…
A Florida court recently issued a decision that will have wide-ranging effects on how non-citizen criminal defendants approach their criminal cases. This decision makes it clear that every criminal defendant who is not a U.S. citizen should strongly consider hiring or consulting with an experienced immigration attorney before they even…
Every day thousands of people find themselves in criminal court having been accused of committing a crime. While criminal court can be a scary, intimidating and rough place to find oneself, it is particularly troublesome for criminal defendants who are not U.S. citizens. In addition to facing prison time or…
I have had the pleasure of giving immigration presentations to many different groups since I began practicing immigration law. These groups include lawyers on both sides of the issue, law enforcement, business leaders, and just regular Joes and Janes looking for insight into this divisive and emotional topic. My background…
Recent Published BIA Decisions: Matter of Hernandez, 26 I&N Dec. 464 (BIA 2015); The Board held that in order for a crime to be considered a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) a criminal recklessness mens rea coupled with no actual physical harm was sufficient to meet the definition of a…
The Board of Immigration Appeals recently published a decision that provided guidance on when state statutory rape statutes are considered sexual abuse of a minor aggravated felonies. In Matter of Esquivel-Quintana, 26 I&N Dec. 469 (BIA 2015), the Board held that in order for a consensual sex offense involving a…
The Board of Immigration Appeals recently published a decision wherein they addressed the level of harm required for a conviction to constitute a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT). In Matter of Hernandez, 26 I&N Dec. 464 (BIA 2015) the Board held that in order for a crime to be considered…
Last week, President Obama announced that he would begin the process to normalize relations with Cuba: “President Obama on Wednesday ordered the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba and the opening of an embassy in Havana for the first time in more than a half-century as he vowed to…
Jeremy Lasnetski and John Gihon, partners with Lasnetski Gihon Law, will be panelists on multiple topics this weekend at AILA Central Florida’s Annual Conference in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The 28th Annual Fall Conference, entitled, “Basics and Beyond at the Beach” is a two-day conference at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach…
Last time I discussed the situations where an immigrant in removal proceedings could seek to terminate proceedings to avoid removal from the United States. Today I will discuss motions to administratively close proceedings. While a successful motion to terminate removal proceedings usually removes an alien from jeopardy of deportation, a…