Texas Immigration Lawyer and Your Rights

Public policy can largely define which crimes and legal issues are given priority by the legislatures and by result, the court system. One of those issues is that of immigration, which has become one of the true Texas hot-button problems of our time. Much of this scrutiny resulted from the events of September 11 and a need to tighten the borders and immigration control, but the results have been catastrophic for thousands of people since that terrible day.

If you are facing prosecution for any number of immigration offenses, you need to act immediately to protect your rights. Contact the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation and to get the process of enforcing those rights started as soon as possible.

Below is a brief overview of immigration offenses:

Federal law defines several immigration offenses, and a few of the most prominent follow:

1. Alien smuggling – It is illegal to knowingly transport an illegal alien into the United States for any reason, and the transporter could be prosecuted if caught.
2. Harboring an illegal alien – It is also illegal to provide shelter or to help to conceal any person who is known to be in the United States illegally.
3. Transporting – It is even illegal to transport an illegal alien who is already in the United States domestically, meaning that no one can move an alien from one domestic location to another.
4. Hiring illegal aliens – An employer could be prosecuted for either knowingly or recklessly hiring an illegal alien for the purpose of performing almost any type of work.
5. Marriage fraud – Alleged offenders will be prosecuted for entering into a marriage for the sole purpose of allowing the illegal alien to remain in the United States.

Potential Penalties for immigration offenses.

One of the most common ways for legislatures to react to increased public pressure in regards to an issue is to increase the penalties for related offenses. That is also the case with immigration offenses, as any of the above offenses, if the defendant is convicted, could carry with them substantial fines and long prison terms. A defendant, depending on the charge and the surrounding circumstances, could face fines up to $250,000 and prison terms of 5 to 10 years. If a person is killed during the course of committing an offense, federal murder or manslaughter statutes could also apply, which would dramatically increase the potential penalties.

Your Next Step

As you see, immigration offenses are serious matters in this day and age. If you are facing the possibility of being prosecuted for such an offense, you need to act swiftly to begin the process of building a strong defense. Contact the Law Office of Frank A. Perez, P.C. today to schedule an initial consultation.