How a Non-Citizen DWI Can Affect Your Immigration Status
Need a Minnesota Non-Citizen DWI Lawyer? If you get behind the wheel after drinking a little too much you should be prepared to face some form of consequence. Driving while under the influence in Minnesota is risky behavior whether you are a Minnesota resident, just visiting or temporarily living here from another country. However, immigrants arrested for a DWI in Minnesota face additional consequences, including the possibility of being removed from the United States.
Minnesota DWI Lawyer and Immigration
When a U.S. citizen gets a DWI, their biggest worry is that they will be convicted and have to face fines, potential jail time and the loss of their license. However for a non-citizen, the arrest alone can affect your future and immediate immigration status even if you haven’t had your day in court.
Once arrested in Minnesota, your fingerprints are taken and this means that your arrest will appear on your record when checked by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services if you apply for future re-admittance. Obviously, having a crime on your record while visiting the United States doesn’t look great to immigration services. However, the worst thing you can do is lie about it. Being upfront about your DWI arrest, even if the charges were dropped, can still result in re-admittance of non-citizens. However, lying about it is seen as fraud and almost guarantees your re-admittance will be denied.
Can a DWI Result in Deportation?
If you were arrested while driving under the influence in Minnesota as an illegal non-citizen, meaning your stay in the United States is not legally documented, you run a higher risk of deportation. In truth, once arrested as an illegal alien for a crime, it is really up to the law enforcement agency if they report you as an illegal alien. While it is not mandatory procedure, some local law enforcement agencies may choose to inform the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where agents will be dispatched to detain and most likely deport you.
However, even if you are not visiting the United States legally, you still have a right to legal counsel. It is crucial for anyone who has been arrested for a DWI, citizen or not, to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. As ICE agents often take several extra days to come pick up an illegal immigrant, contacting the right DWI lawyer as well as immigration lawyer could help you escape deportation.
If you have been arrested for a DWI in the Minneapolis area and need help, contact us today to speak to a Minnesota Non-Citizen DWI Lawyer. Whether you are a citizen, non-citizen, or illegal Kinsella & Foley Defense can help you craft an effective legal defense for your DWI charge.