A list of some references for crimes of moral turpitude, DUI, Shoplifting, public urination (maybe outside of the VSC?), the 1996 immigration law and the Patriot Act. Guys be careful!


One Size Does Not Fit All

Victor Hugo's Les Miserables was written in the 1800s. Jean Val Jean's character epitomized the futility and the inhumanity of the medieval legal standard where a single offense, no matter how minor, doomed a person for life. Such an approach to offenses is not just inhumane but is actually futile in achieving a society ruled by law. The time-tested legal principle therefore is one of tailoring the punishment to the crime. Unfortunately, the passions that immigration gives rise to sometimes cloud the minds of our legal policymakers. As modified by IIRIRA, our immigration laws currently enshrine a "one strike, you're out!" doctrine. An example of the absurdity that results can be seen in today's case where a "criminal alien" faced two years in federal prison and mandatory deportation apparently merely for the offense of urinating in public. We would be better off by ensuring that the punishment is proportional to the crime even in the immigration context instead of having to relearn the lessons of the Middle Ages once again.

http://www.visalaw.com/01aug4/12aug401.html

http://www.criminallawyers.ca/newsl...96/drukarsh.htm

http://www.criminallawyers.ca/newslett/19-4/segal.htm

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foi...e9/crm01934.htm

http://www.fitzgeraldlawcompany.com...onvictions.html

http://www.pdsdc.org/CriminalLawDat...ration.asp?ID=1

http://www.callyourlawyers.com/mobile/gmcmobile.html

http://www.ndaa-apri.org/pdf/DA%20Guide.pdf

http://www.immigration-america.com/criminal.html

http://www.nysda.org/NYSDA_Resource...efense_Project/

03_Immigration_Consequences_Checklist.pdf

http://www.dcba.org/brief/junissue/2003/art50603.htm

http://www.murthy.com/UDshoplg.html

http://www.ailf.org/lac/lac_briefarch_9912255220.htm

http://www.cyrusmehta.com/news_cyru...=799&intPage=11

http://www.makezine.org/immigration.html

http://www.capriotti.com/bigtime.htm

Stalking was added as a felony for immigration purposes.

Shoplifting (99 cents!), Cheating in exams!

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/othe...es/articles.htm

Drug use: http://www.rreeves.com/pub_342.htm

Book: http://aila.store.yahoo.com/imm-toc.html

Hit and Run: Please stay away from any serious offenses as the Ashcroft laws are constantly changing!