Immigration Offenses went up from 6,605 defendants in 1996 to 20,771 in 2003, the number of defendants tripling in 2003. Ever since 9-11 immigration offenses have greatly increased and are expected to continue this course.

Listed below are crimes that would be considered immigration offenses:

Alien Smuggling: anyone who is aware that a person is an alien and brings or tries to bring them to the United States in any manner. Exceptions: takes them to designated port of entry or has received prior official authorization for entry.

Harboring: any conduct that tends to facilitate an aliens stay in the U.S illegally.

Domestic Transporting: anyone who knowingly moves or tries to move an illegal alien within the U.S. by means of transportation.

Conspiracy/Aiding: engaging in a conspiracy to aid or commit the commission of foregoing offenses.

Encouraging/Inducing: anyone who tries to convince someone to illegally enter the U.S. knowing that they will be violating the law.

Bringing Aliens to the U.S.: anyone who brings an illegal alien to the U.S. knowing that they have not received authorization to enter.

Hiring Illegal Aliens: any person who hires, recruits, or refers for a fee knowing they are an unauthorized alien.

Illegal entry, marriage or establishing a business for evading immigration laws: entry without being a citizen, getting married to get citizenship, establishing commercial enterprise for evading immigration laws.

Prohibited Sexual Activities with Aliens: importing, holding, and controlling aliens for prostitution.

Refusal to Depart: refusal or failure for an illegal alien to depart from the U.S. within 90 days of judicial order of removal.

Fleeing or evading a checkpoint: escaping from a checkpoint operated by the Immigration Service.
Marriage Fraud: penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for any person who “knowingly enters into a marriage for the purpose of evading any provision of the immigration laws."

Passport and Other Entry Documents: expired visa, missing appropriate passport or documents, false statements in application or passports, forging passport.

Offenses Related to Nationality and Citizenship: misuse or falsification of citizenship papers, alien voting in a federal election.

These are all considered immigration offenses and severe penalties are usually faced when someone is charged with these kinds of offenses.

If you have been charged with an immigration offense or think that you may be under investigation, don’t wait any longer. Your rights as well as your future will be protected with a criminal defense attorney that possess the necessary knowledge on the investigation methods of immigration officials and federal prosecutors.