Crime Involving Moral Turpitude
Crimes involving Moral Turpitude are embedded in immigration law but are in fact ill defined on the statute books of any state. By and large they are regarded as crimes involving controlled substances (drugs), arms and explosives contraventions, People smuggling and burglary (including shoplifting). Being convicted of a CIMT can result in being deported, declared inadmissible or being barred from receiving relief.
Not every CIMT results in the end to a non citizens hopes of naturalization, especially if it is the first such conviction nevertheless it is always best not to take any chances. Thus if you are an immigrant being charged with a crime get advise as to whether this crime is a CIMT and even if it is not do not enter a guilty plea or even a no contest plea until you have consulted an attorney who is familiar with immigration and criminal law. Finding the perfect Los Angeles Criminal Immigration Lawyer is certainly not a task to be taken lightly.
One way for him to do it is to plead guilty to an offense that is not rated as a CIMT or to a vague charge of unlawful entry, or u=intent to commit larceny, but not both. Plead to trespass or loitering neither of which is a CIMT, even possession of burglary tools may classify here.
The attorney will try to create an offense for you to plead to that is definitely not a CIMT. These are all quite difficult because if burglary was the charge then you have to plea to something other than unlawfully accessing a building with the intention of committing a larcenous act. Your attorney should do his level best to arrange it however.
If you have been advised by the state provided attorney to plead guilty to a crime that you afterwards discover is a CIMT and makes you deportable then you need to employ a different attorney who will enter a Motion to Vacate Judgment in CA. This is possible in many cases because you were ill advised by the state provided attorney and thus you did not receive adequate counsel.
In all these instances the attorney will be doing his utmost to reverse any record of your being guilty of any crime that may be constituted as a CIMT and thus ensuring that your immigration status is protected.
On no account should you, when arrested and arraigned for any crime, petty, misdemeanor or felony enter any discussion with the arresting officers or the district attorney without your own counsel present. It is strange to some cultures but in the United States the state appointed counsel is in fact your lawyer and is required to everything possible to defend you (even if his fees are paid for by the state). If he provides inadequate defense he himself may face charges of his own.