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PAGE 1 Criminal Defense Charges for Non-U.S. Citizens
BOBBY GREEN’S REMARKABLE RELEASE: HE’S HOME SAFE AND SOUND
It’s Vital to Protect Yourself With the Right Attorney
C hristmas is always a special time of year, but this year is truly special for us and for our clients. At the beginning of December, three of our clients — with very difficult CrImmigration cases —were released from custody. After kept apart from their families for so long, they are now home, safe and sound, just in time to enjoy the holidays. These three aren’t the only ones either! Another client, Bobby Green, was released a month ago after fighting (for almost one year in ICE detention) against 20-year-old criminal convictions for which he long-ago served his sentence. Bobby Green is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., a U.S. Army veteran, and runs a nonprofit (with his wife) which aims to help low- income communities with health disparities. Two decades ago he was charged with criminal offenses. Both convictions took place around the same time, during a difficult period of his life. He and his family later had become homeless and were struggling financially. Although the criminal convictions were severe, Bobby didn’t realize they would impact his legal residency status at that moment or ever in the future. The lawyer he hired at the time worked out a great resolution for his case that didn’t require Bobby to go to jail. He served and finished his probation, then continued on with his life, believing that chapter of his life was over. Twenty years later, Bobby was at home with his wife and children when there was a knock on the door. It was the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and they detained him for charges of deportation. Bobby was detained in a time of his life when, for the past two decades, had lived a law-abiding life and improved the community around him. Yet, in that moment, his life completely changed. To fight against his deportation charges, he began working with another attorney, but quickly learned that his criminal convictions of 20 years prior didn’t allow his immigration attorney to fight his deportation case. His criminal conviction is considered the most severe
type of conviction – an “aggravated felony.” That is why it didn’t allow Bobby— a lawful permanent resident with a green card — any option to fight against his deportation. Had Bobby known that when he decided to plead guilty to his charges, he would eventually find himself in this situation (unable to defend himself or get himself out of immigration jail), he would never have agreed to it. However, his attorney didn’t give him the chance to make that decision. They defense lawyer did not tell Bobby that, at some point in the future, he would face mandatory deportation. Bobby was referred to STERN Law, and our team found a way to go back, even 20 years later, and challenge those convictions in a criminal court. Our legal team proved that his rights were violated, and his conviction was removed! By showing that Bobby not only served his debt to society, but that he’s also contributing to his community in terms of his nonprofit, the prosecutor dismissed the charges. After almost a year of being held in immigration custody, he was finally released. Today, Bobby is now home with his family, still a legal resident, and on his way to becoming a U.S. citizen; but that’s not all: Bobby wants to share his experience spent in immigration detention, hoping that his story helps other individuals understand why it’s so important to take criminal convictions seriously, even if they have a green card. He hopes that people will also understand why it’s essential to protect yourself with the right attorney. This case was a huge victory for Bobby and his family, and we are happy to have helped get him home in time for the holidays. He can now celebrate Christmas and greet the new year side-by-side with the people he loves.
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