Crimmigration Attorney Serving Raleigh and Wake County
A criminal charge carries a second, hidden penalty for noncitizens: the risk of deportation. A crimmigration attorney looks past the criminal court outcome to protect your right to stay in the United States.
What a Crimmigration Attorney Does for Wake County Families
"Crimmigration" describes the place where criminal law and immigration law collide. If you are a noncitizen arrested in Raleigh, Durham, or anywhere in Johnston County, a conviction (or even certain plea deals) can trigger removal proceedings even after your criminal case is resolved.
A crimmigration lawyer at Guirguis Law reviews the charge from both angles at once. We look at what the state or federal prosecutor is offering, and we look at what that same offer means for your green card, visa, or pending application before you ever agree to it.
This service is built for green card holders, visa holders, and undocumented individuals in Wake, Durham, and Johnston counties who have been charged with a crime and need one legal team handling both the courtroom and the immigration consequences, rather than two lawyers working in silos.
Convictions That Carry Immigration Consequences
Not every charge carries the same immigration risk, and the difference often comes down to how a charge is written, negotiated, or pled. Our immigration attorney and criminal defense attorney teams flag these categories early in every case:
- Crimes involving moral turpitude, including fraud, theft, and offenses meant to cause serious harm
- Aggravated felonies under immigration law, such as drug trafficking or firearm offenses
- Controlled substance violations, even for a first-time drug offense
- Domestic violence offenses, including violations tied to protective orders
- DUI and repeat traffic offenses that immigration authorities may treat differently than the criminal court does
- Firearms and weapons charges, which can carry mandatory immigration penalties regardless of the criminal sentence
Your immigration status (green card holder, visa holder, asylee, or undocumented) changes which of these categories apply and how severely. That is why a general practice criminal defense lawyer without immigration training can unintentionally put your future in this country at risk.
- Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association
- NC Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Defense, 2012
- Serving Wake, Durham and Johnston counties since 2008
How Our Crimmigration Lawyers Build Your Defense
We move quickly because timing often determines whether a case can be resolved without immigration fallout. Here is what to expect when you hire our firm.
Immediate Case Review
We review the police report, charging document, and your immigration history within days of intake, so we know exactly what is at stake before any court date is set.
Coordinated Defense Strategy
Our criminal defense lawyer and immigration lawyer work the same file together, testing the evidence for weaknesses and identifying charges that could be reduced or dismissed.
Plea and Sentencing Negotiation
If a plea makes sense, we negotiate its language and structure specifically to avoid triggering deportation, not just to reduce jail time or fines.
Immigration Follow-Through
Once the criminal matter resolves, we handle any related immigration filing or defense, including removal proceedings, so nothing falls through the gap between the two systems.
Attorneys Who Handle Crimmigration Cases
Guirguis Law pairs criminal defense skill with deep immigration knowledge under one roof. These attorneys lead our crimmigration matters.
Nardine Mary Guirguis
Nardine leads our immigration and crimmigration practice, guiding clients through removal proceedings, waivers, and complex cases where a criminal charge threatens lawful status.
Robert E. Waters
Robert brings board certified criminal defense specialist experience to our crimmigration team, handling state and federal charges where the client's immigration status is on the line.
Why Wake, Durham, and Johnston County Clients Trust Guirguis Law
Our office sits steps from the Wake County Courthouse on Fayetteville Street, which means we are often in front of the same district and superior court judges who hear cases from Raleigh, Cary, and Garner. That proximity matters when a plea negotiation needs to happen fast, before a hearing date locks in an outcome that harms your immigration case.
We also regularly appear in Durham County District Court and the Johnston County Courthouse in Smithfield, so families across the Triangle and beyond get the same coordinated defense no matter which county filed the charge. Many of our clients first found us through our broader immigration legal services, including adjustment of status, family-based visas, and naturalization, before a criminal charge made crimmigration defense urgent.
As a multilingual law firm, we serve clients in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and our team includes a faith based law firm perspective that many clients from Christian communities in the Triangle have told us made a difficult season easier to face. Whether you need a state criminal defense lawyer for a Wake County misdemeanor or a federal criminal defense lawyer for a case in the Eastern District of North Carolina, we handle the immigration piece alongside it.
Crimmigration FAQ
Clients facing criminal charges as noncitizens usually have the same handful of urgent questions. Here are honest answers from our crimmigration attorney team.
Do I need a crimmigration lawyer if my criminal case seems minor?
Yes, if you are not a U.S. citizen. Immigration law and criminal law define "minor" very differently, and a charge that results in probation or a small fine in state court can still count as a deportable offense under federal immigration rules.
Can a deportation defense lawyer help after I have already pled guilty?
Sometimes. Options depend on how the plea was worded, what the record shows, and whether post-conviction relief or an appeal is available. A deportation defense lawyer should review the plea transcript and judgment as soon as possible to see what can still be done.
What is the difference between state and federal crimmigration cases?
State criminal defense lawyer work usually involves North Carolina district or superior court charges like DUI, assault, or drug possession. A federal criminal defense lawyer handles charges in federal court, such as certain drug trafficking or firearm offenses, which often carry harsher aggravated felony consequences under immigration law.
How early should I contact an immigration lawyer after an arrest?
As early as possible, ideally before you enter any plea. Immigration consequences are often locked in at the plea stage, so involving an immigration lawyer alongside your criminal defense attorney from the first court date gives you the most options.
Protect Your Case and Your Status Before It Is Too Late
A criminal charge does not have to end your life in the United States, but the window to protect your status often closes fast. Talk with a crimmigration attorney at Guirguis Law before your next court date so we can build one strategy that defends both your freedom and your future here.
