CRIMMIGRATION
DEFENSE

Crimmigration arises when a criminal charge — even a misdemeanor — begins to dictate a person’s immigration future. An arrest can lead directly to ICE taking custody. A minor offense can suddenly be treated as a “crime involving moral turpitude” or a “controlled substance offense,” even when the Texas statute does not match the federal definition. A state-court resolution can unexpectedly trigger removal proceedings. Pleas that seem harmless on the criminal side can be fatal on the immigration side.

This is why these cases are dangerous. Immigration law frequently treats “conduct” as if it were a conviction. A deferred adjudication in Texas can still be treated as a conviction under immigration law. A dismissal negotiated incorrectly can still leave the door open for DHS to pursue removability. And sometimes, the government takes the position that certain individuals are mandatorily detained — meaning the judge has no authority to release them — even when that interpretation is legally wrong.

CEDILLO LAW FIRM

Where criminal law and immigration law collide — we protect your freedom and your future.

Crimmigration is the dangerous intersection between the criminal justice system and U.S. immigration law. A single arrest, even for a misdemeanor, can trigger devastating immigration consequences — detention by ICE, removal proceedings (AKA deportation proceedings), denial of benefits, and permanent separation from family.

Cedillo Law Firm is uniquely positioned to defend clients who face criminal charges AND immigration consequences. Unlike most firms, we handle both sides of the case:

The criminal defense
The immigration consequences
And the strategy connecting them

We know how one system affects the other — and how to win in both.

What is 'Crimmigration'?

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Why Crimmigration Cases Are Dangerous

Even a single charge can result in:

ICE placing a detainer
Mandatory detention (no bond)
Ineligibility for cancellation of removal
Ineligibility for adjustment of status
Deportation based solely on the criminal allegation
DHS using the offense report as “evidence”
Criminal pleas that trigger removal, even if “deferred”
Immigration courts treating probation as a “conviction”
ICE arguing someone is a danger to the community based on the arrest alone

This is why criminal defense and immigration defense MUST talk to each other — otherwise, the client pays the price.

Our Crimmigration Strategy:
How Cedillo Law Firm Protects You

1. We review both the criminal case AND the immigration file

We examine:

The probable cause affidavit
The charging instrument
The offense code
Prior convictions
Immigration history
Prior removal orders
Prior deportations
Pending applications
ICE detainers
Bond eligibility

This lets us see the entire battlefield — not just one side.

2. We identify the immigration-safe outcome

Before entering any plea or making any criminal decision, we determine:

Can this charge cause deportation?
Is it a CIMT?
Is it an aggravated felony?
Is it a controlled substance offense?
Can a plea be structured as a non-deportable offense?
Is deferred adjudication dangerous for this client?
Is a reduction to a different statute possible?
Can we negotiate a “safe” sentence or disposition?

No plea happens until we know the immigration impact.

3. We fight the criminal case to avoid the immigration consequences

Our criminal-defense strategy focuses on:

Dismissals
Reductions
Negotiating non-deportable pleas
Suppression motions
Trial wins

We have never lost a DWI case we have taken to trial in Harris County, and we frequently secure dismissals in Assault, Trespass, and Drug cases — victories that directly protect immigration status.

4. We protect you in immigration court

If ICE detains you or DHS issues a Notice to Appear (NTA), we:

Request immigration bond where allowed
Challenge “mandatory detention”
Fight for release using 42A/42B eligibility
File Motions to Terminate based on criminal defects
Fight inadmissibility and removability
Challenge the government’s evidence
Prepare for individual hearings
Use criminal-case results to win your deportation case

Your criminal defense and immigration defense must reinforce one another — and we coordinate both.

Criminal Charges That Have Immigration Consequences

Cedillo Law Firm handles all crimmigration-triggering offenses, including:

DWI / DWI 2nd / Felony DWI
Assault Family Violence
Theft (all levels)
Drug Possession / Delivery
Burglary
Evading / Resisting
Sexual assault
Indecency / child-related allegations
Fraud
Criminal Mischief
Firearm offenses

We know which offenses are:

CIMTs
Aggravated felonies
Deportable offenses
Inadmissible offenses
Safe or unsafe for green card holders
Safe or unsafe for asylum seekers
Safe or unsafe for undocumented clients
Safe or unsafe for DACA holders
Safe or unsafe for TPS or VAWA clients

This knowledge is the difference between staying in the U.S. and being deported.

A Landmark Federal Court Win: When the Government Claimed Mandatory Detention, We Proved They Were Wrong

One of our recent victories highlights exactly why crimmigration defense matters. Our client, who entered the United States without inspection, was detained by ICE and labeled by the government — and even the Board of Immigration Appeals — as someone subject to mandatory detention. This was the government’s way of telling the immigration judge: “You have no power to release him. He gets no bond hearing. Keep him locked up.”

We refused to accept that. We filed a federal Writ of Habeas Corpus action in U.S. District Court challenging the government’s interpretation of the detention statutes and arguing that our client was entitled to a bond hearing.
After extensive briefing, the federal judge issued a remarkable order: the immigration judge was required to hold a bond hearing, and if DHS could not justify continued detention by a deadline, the client had to be released.

This was not just a win for our client — though the impact on his family was immediate and life-changing. It was a demonstration of our firm’s ability to fight the government on all levels: criminal court, immigration court, and federal court when necessary.
Very few firms litigate crimmigration cases this aggressively. We do.

Padilla-Compliant Advice

Under Padilla v. Kentucky, defense attorneys have a constitutional duty to advise non-citizens of immigration consequences.

We go far beyond the minimum.

Our team provides:

Written Padilla letters
Detailed consultations with the client and family
Coordination between the criminal and immigration strategy
Clear, accurate advice before any plea
Post-conviction relief when prior attorneys failed to advise
Motions to Withdraw Plea
Motions to Reopen (for immigration)
Habeas petitions under Article 11.09 and 11.072

When other attorneys make mistakes, we fix them to protect you.

ICE Holds (Detainers)

If your loved one is in jail with an ICE hold, we take immediate action:

Contact ICE
Review bond eligibility
Request an immigration bond hearing
Challenge mandatory detention
Coordinate between criminal court and immigration court
Fight to get the client released

We have secured numerous ICE bond victories that allowed clients to reunite with their families and continue fighting their cases from outside detention.

Why Clients Trust Cedillo Law Firm

If your loved one is in jail with an ICE hold, we take immediate action:

Contact ICE
Review bond eligibility
Request an immigration bond hearing
Challenge mandatory detention
Coordinate between criminal court and immigration court
Fight to get the client released

We have secured numerous ICE bond victories that allowed clients to reunite with their families and continue fighting their cases from outside detention.

Contact the Cedillo Law Firm

If you or a loved one is facing immigration consequences because of a criminal charge — or if ICE has detained someone you care about — contact us immediately. We will evaluate every avenue of defense, protect your rights in every courtroom, and fight for your ability to remain with your family.