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Illegal Immigrants: What To Do When Facing A Drug Charge

2 August 2015 by Daryl Young

Being charged with a drug-related crime can be frightening for anyone, but it's particularly frightening for those who are in the country illegally. Along with being worried about what will happen to you after your drug charge conviction, you may also be worried about getting deported. This is certainly something that could happen, but you shouldn't give up just yet. Instead, follow these steps to help protect your chances of staying in the United States.

Avoid Using Drugs

First and foremost, you should avoid using drugs after your charge. Sentencing only gets worse for repeat offenders; plus, although you might be able to defend yourself against deportation if you only have one drug charge on your record, doing so when you have two or more on your record is going to be a lot harder, especially if they all occur in close proximity of one another. For best results, it's a good idea to seek treatment for drug abuse if you have a drug problem; in some cases, seeking treatment on your own can make you look a lot better in court, both when you go to court for your drug charge and in the event that you end up in immigration court.

Fight the Charge

You should not just plead guilty to your drug charge if you can help it. Gather up any evidence that you can find that will help you fight your case, and make sure that you hire a good lawyer. Not only do you have to worry about the punishment that can go along with a drug conviction, but you also have to think about how bad a conviction will make you look if you go to immigration court.

Talk to an Immigration Lawyer

Even if you have not been threatened with the possibility of deportation yet, you should be prepared in case it does happen. That's why you should go ahead and meet with an immigration counseling lawyer now. He or she can help guide you in the right direction and can help you prepare for any potential immigration issues. You can also start working on becoming a legal United States citizen.

If you are currently in the midst of facing a drug charge, you are probably worried about a lot of things. One of these things might be deportation. Luckily, following a few steps during this period can help you protect yourself from getting sent back to your home country.

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