I'll stay... as long as you love me

For singer Justin Bieber, things are getting worse. He turned himself in to authorities in Toronto, Canada, this week on charges of assaulting a limousine driver. And over 100,000 people have signed a petition to the White House, asking that Bieber be deported. How could these two events impact Justin's future immigration status in the United States?

Don't make him fade away.
Photo used under Creative Commons license from @ilovejb123 on Flickr.

If it turns out that Justin is convicted of crimes in any country, and he decides to apply for a green card, he will have to explain his criminal record. Applicants for certain types of immigration benefits, such as asylum or a green card, must disclose any prior criminal convictions. This is true whether the crime occurred in the U.S. or in any other country. If a person doesn't disclose his or her criminal record, it is likely that the government may still find out. Prior criminal convictions won't necessarily prevent someone from getting approved for immigration benefits, but it is important to talk with an attorney before applying to be aware of any risks. The list of crimes that can impact someone's immigration status is very complicated, and an experienced attorney can help determine whether someone's record will cause problems.

Could the White House petition result in Justin's deportation? It's very unlikely, because Justin's crimes likely aren't serious enough to qualify him for deportation. He also has many fans in the U.S. who would like him to stay! Having broad support from your community can be important in certain immigration settings. Under certain circumstances, the law allows the government to exercise discretion, and decide whether a person should be allowed to stay in the United States despite some mishap. Again, it is important to talk to an attorney before requesting prosecutorial discretion. An attorney can help you figure out whether your circumstances would qualify you to apply, and whether you would have a good chance of success.

New Updates to CORI Law Launch Today

The Boston Globe reported today that Massachusetts has updated its CORI system today to limit searches of criminal history to 10 years back, but allow for wider access for employers who use the system to screen potential employees. CORI - Criminal Offender Record Information - was passed in 1972 in order "to restrict dissemination of criminal histories to law enforcement agencies" and today it is a central registry where employers, landlords, and third party background screening companies have access to search the criminal backgrounds of potential volunteers and job applicants. 

Supporters of the new overhaul argue that limiting searches to 10 years back, with the exception of homicide and sex offense convictions, will allow "greater opportunities for offenders who stay out of trouble to reintegrate into society." Opponents argue that Massachusetts employers should not be restricted on what information they can access. However, the National Consumer Law Center reported that background screening companies often commit mistakes in their searches, resulting in matching people to crimes they did not commit, revealing sealed juvenile offense, and omitting important information about a case, according to the article. 

Glickman Turley's experienced attorneys represent individuals on a wide range of immigration matters, as well as other legal issues. Please contact our attorneys if you wish to discuss representation on immigration matters, real estate purchase and sales, condominium associations, criminal defense, non-profit law, civil litigation, business litigation, business law, trademark law, probate matters including wills, powers of attorney, health care proxy, same-sex co-parent adoptions, guardianships, animal law, or LGBT legal matters.