Alien Smuggling Lawyer in Irvine, CA Protecting the Rights of Clients
American immigration law is constantly in flux, and the country’s border policies seem to change with every election cycle. A lot of money and attention is paid to keeping illegal entry into the United States at a minimum, which makes for swift and aggressive prosecutions in the federal courts. It is sometimes said that no part of the American justice system moves more rapidly or more chaotically than the immigration court. And if you have been accused of criminal offenses that break federal law, your defense may need to be exceptionally well-executed, or a conviction could result in hefty fines, time spent behind bars in federal prison for a legal citizen, or deportation for non-citizens.
While we tend to think of alien smuggling as either the act of bringing an undocumented alien into the country illegally or a conspiracy to smuggle an illegal alien into the United States, many federal crimes are related to alien smuggling. Harboring illegal aliens, making arrangements to have family members brought into the country illegally, and pursuing some financial gain in an illegal immigration scheme are all relevant criminal offenses to the act of illegal alien smuggling and illegal border crossing.
Whatever your level of exposure in federal courts for alien smuggling crimes, it is important that you understand that the federal government takes these charges very seriously and will pursue harsh penalties for those convicted. An accusation for a crime is not the same thing as a guilty verdict, however. Hiring an experienced lawyer who has represented clients in practice areas relevant to illegal immigration should be your first step. The confidential attorney-client relationship means that your federal criminal defense attorney is there for you to defend your best interests and keep you out of federal prison.
To begin crafting your criminal defense, speak with the Law Office of Diane C. Bass. With the attorney’s legal guidance, you may be able to establish reasonable doubt and see charges dropped or reduced in federal courts. Diane C. Bass has extensive experience providing clients with criminal defense in and around Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Irvine, CA. If you would like to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation, please call the law firm of Diane C. Bass to discuss your legal options.
What Is Considered Illegal Alien Smuggling in California?
- It is a federal crime to aid, sell, encourage or induce illegal entry of an alien, or non-citizen, into the United States. There are a number of actions that can be considered alien smuggling under the law, including:
- Smuggling – bringing or making arrangements to bring illegal aliens into the U.S. (e.g., hiding someone in their car while driving across the border).
- Transporting – knowingly facilitating an illegal border crossing with an illegal alien.
- Harboring – intentionally concealing or harboring an illegal alien to help them stay in the country.
- Encouraging or Inducing – employers, family members, or advocates aid or assist illegal alien crossing.
- Hiring – an employer hires, recruits, or refers a person knowing that they are illegal or continues to employ a person after discovering their illegal status.
Note that if the person convicted of smuggling, harboring, or helping an undocumented alien get into the United States is not a citizen themselves, they will likely be forbidden from returning to the United States. An experienced alien smuggling lawyer can develop a strong defense in federal criminal court and immigration court in such a case.
To work with a skilled, dedicated attorney on your alien smuggling charges in Irvine, contact Attorney Bass online or at 949-577-8368 for a free consultation.
What Are the Immigration Law Penalties and Sentencing Guidelines?
Depending on the nature of the smuggling offense, a person could face a range of jail time. If the alien smuggling was done for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain, they will face certain fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years. If the person causes serious bodily injury to, or places in jeopardy the life of, any person while smuggling an alien into the country, they will face certain fines and up to 20 years of imprisonment. In the case that the act of alien smuggling results in the death of any person, the defendant will face death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life, as well as specific fines set by the court.
The penalties for a person who, during any period of 12 months, knowingly hires for employment at least ten individuals with actual knowledge that the individuals are aliens are certain fines imposed by the court and imprisonment for up to five years.
The sentence may otherwise increase by up to 10 years if:
- the offense was part of an ongoing commercial organization or enterprise;
- aliens were transported in groups of 10 or more; and
- aliens were transported in a manner that endangered their lives or presented a life-threatening health risk to people in the United States.
Who Does Federal Law Consider to be ‘Illegal Aliens’?
‘Illegal alien.’ It is an increasingly dated and problematic term. In 2021, the Biden administration announced that they were no longer going to use the phrase, opting to call an ‘alien’ a ‘non-citizen’ instead. Like ‘catch and release’ and talk of ‘migrant caravans,’ the term ‘illegal aliens’ dehumanizes people, which in turn allows for harsher, less humane treatment of those people. While we respect these changes, it is important to note that most courtrooms still use the old language, and there is less concern for respect and human decency in a law enforcement prison cell.
An undocumented non-US citizen/illegal alien is any foreign-born individual who committed the crime of entering the United States without permission or inspection of the Immigration and Naturalization Service or who entered legally as non-citizens but overstayed their permitted welcome.
Questions? Contact Attorney Diane C. Bass Immediately to Schedule a Free Consultation
If you have been accused of alien smuggling in Irvine, CA, seek an experienced lawyer immediately to get started on your defense. The penalties for alien smuggling are serious. Attorney Diane C. Bass has years of experience and prominent cases at the federal level under her belt, so she can effectively guide you through the federal legal process. It is best to work with an advocate as experienced as Attorney Bass, as she will apply her years of professional skill and knowledge to your federal defense in court as you combat alien smuggling accusations.
The moment you walk through the doors of the Law Office of Diane C. Bass, A Professional Law Corporation, you can be confident that you will be working directly with an experienced and knowledgeable defense attorney. Attorney Diane C. Bass has handled some of the largest cases in the Central District of California, and she seeks to foster a compassionate and understanding environment for her clients.
To schedule a free consultation, please call the law firm of Diane C. Bass at 949-577-8368.