Criminal assault charges for non-citizens in New York

Criminal assault charges for non-citizens in New York

As the go-to criminal defense firm for the New York City consulates of France, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Belgium, the attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew Galluzzo routinely represent foreign citizens charged with criminal assault (including, for example, Assault in the Third Degree [Penal Law 120.00], Assault in the Second Degree [Penal Law 120.05], and Assault in the First Degree [Penal Law 120.10]). These charges are especially problematic for non-citizens as they can result in deportation or future inadmissibility into the United States.

(Though this is a bit of an oversimplification, deportation is the process by which a person is forcibly removed from the United States and barred from returning, whereas a person determined to be “inadmissible” cannot enter or re-enter the United States after leaving).

A non-citizen convicted of a “crime involving moral turpitude” within the first five years of admission is deportable. See Immigration and Naturalization Act (“INA”) Section 237(a)(2)(A). The most common New York criminal assault charge, Assault in the Third Degree, applies where a person intentionally causes physical injury to another person (Penal Law Section 120.00), and is often brought in cases involving domestic violence or drunken bar fights. Courts – including the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Southern District of New York – have routinely concluded that Assault in the Third Degree is in fact a “crime involving moral turpitude.” See e.g. In re Solon, I & N Dec. 239, 243 (2007); Mustafaj v. Holder, 369 Fed. Appx. 163, 167 (2nd Cir. 2010) (citing In re Solon, supra). As such, a conviction for Assault in the Third Degree within the first five years of admission would represent a “crime involving moral turpitude” and would render the person deportable.

The felony assault charges in New York (Assault in the Second Degree [Penal Law Section 120.05] and Assault in the First Degree [Penal Law Section 120.10]) can also render a convicted person deportable on multiple other grounds, including but not limited to classification as “aggravated felonies,” “crimes of violence,” and/or “domestic violence crimes,” potentially. Non-citizens charged with these felony assault charges should also avoid traveling outside the United States pending the disposition of these cases, as immigration officials might conclude that the accusations alone are sufficient to permanently deny those individuals re-entry into the United States.

Finally, a conviction for a misdemeanor “counts” for deportation purposes regardless of whether there is a re-pleader situation. In fact, courts have upheld deportation orders where the convictions at issue (by guilty plea) were even later vacated in the interest of justice. Saleh v. Gonzales, 496 F.3d 17, 25 (2nd Cir. 2007) (“…an alien remains convicted of a removable offense for federal immigration purposes when the predicate conviction is vacated simply to aid the alien in avoiding adverse immigration consequences and not because of any procedural or substantive defect in the original conviction…”). This issue frequently arises in cases involving non-citizens trying to participate in judicial diversion programs. See e.g. People v. Brignolle, 41 Misc.3d 949 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. County, 2013) (Weinberg, J.). In short, what matters for immigration purposes is the original allocution, so non-citizen defendants charged with Assault in the Third Degree should be wary of re-pleader plea bargain offers where the original allocution is to a misdemeanor.[1]

Ideally, a non-citizen charged with a misdemeanor assault charge will get the charges dismissed by a prosecutor or dismissed at trial. Otherwise, plea bargains involving violations like Disorderly Conduct (Penal Law Section 240.20), Harassment in the Second Degree (Penal Law Section 240.26), or adjournments in contemplation of dismissal (ACDs) may be viable options, often with restitution payments, community service, counseling, or a combination of those things. Non-citizens should be warned about the possible consequences of an open ACD with respect to the renewal or obtaining of American visas.

If you are a foreign citizen facing criminal assault charges in New York City, you should strongly consider contacting the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Law Office of Matthew Galluzzo. In addition to their fluency in French, they are very familiar with the immigration consequences of assault charges and are especially qualified to help you navigate the unique challenges facing foreign citizens accused of assault. They have successfully represented numerous foreign citizens charged with assault and are prepared to assist you or your loved ones in safeguarding their futures in the United States.

[1] See Saleh v. Gonzales, supra, at fn 6. A conviction is defined as: “[A] formal judgment of guilt of the alien entered by a court of, if adjudication of guilt has been withheld, where – (i) a judge or jury has found the alien guilty or the alien has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or has admitted sufficient facts to warrant a finding of guilt, and (ii) the judge has ordered some form of punishment, penalty, or restraint on the alien’s liberty to be imposed.” 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(48)(A).