Alvarez Law Firm warns immigrants criminal charges can trigger deportation

The Alexandria firm is urging noncitizens in Northern Virginia to consult both criminal defense and immigration counsel before pleading to any charge. The warning comes as even misdemeanor cases can carry federal immigration consequences for green card holders, visa holders, asylum recipients and DACA beneficiaries.

Why it matters: - Criminal charges that might mean fines or probation for U.S. citizens can lead to deportation, permanent reentry bars, or loss of lawful permanent resident status for noncitizens. - The warning applies to undocumented residents and also to green card holders, visa holders, asylum recipients, and DACA beneficiaries. - The Alvarez Law Firm says the risk is especially important in Northern Virginia, where immigrant communities face overlapping criminal and immigration exposure.

What happened: - The Alvarez Law Firm in Alexandria is urging noncitizens facing criminal charges to speak with both a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney before entering any plea. - The firm is highlighting traffic stops, shoplifting charges, and DUI cases as examples of local criminal matters that can trigger immigration consequences. - Founder Sylvano Alvarez said a misdemeanor theft conviction or drug possession charge can be treated as a deportable offense under federal immigration law, even if Virginia law treats the case differently.

The details: - Federal immigration law can treat convictions as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude, which can trigger mandatory removal proceedings. - In many cases, a conviction leaves no meaningful defense to deportation. - Virginia law requires courts to warn noncitizen defendants that a guilty plea may affect immigration status. - That warning does not prevent immigration consequences from taking effect. - The 2010 Supreme Court decision in Padilla v. Kentucky requires criminal defense attorneys to advise noncitizen clients about immigration consequences before a plea. - The Alvarez Law Firm handles criminal defense and immigration matters in-house. - The firm says that structure allows attorneys to evaluate criminal exposure and immigration risk at the same time. - The firm also handles removal defense before the Annandale Immigration Court and the Sterling Immigration Court. - Post-conviction relief, including motions to vacate pleas entered without adequate immigration advisal, may be available in some cases. - The firm offers free initial consultations at (703) 888-0959. - The office is at 50 S Pickett St, Suite 110, Alexandria, VA 22304. - Consultations are available in English and Spanish. - A link to more information is available on the firm's website.

Between the lines: - The firm is trying to shift attention from the criminal charge itself to the federal immigration classification that can follow a plea. - That matters because a charge that looks minor in state court can still carry severe federal consequences. - The emphasis on bilingual, combined legal representation suggests the firm is positioning itself as a one-stop resource for immigrant defendants.

What's next: - Noncitizens in Alexandria and Northern Virginia facing criminal charges may need to assess immigration consequences before any court deadline or plea offer. - Some defendants may also need to explore post-conviction relief if a prior plea was entered without proper immigration advice. - The firm says it will continue offering consultations and coordinated criminal-immigration representation.

The bottom line: - For noncitizens, a local criminal case can quickly become an immigration case, so legal advice before a plea can be decisive.