It is illegal to enter the country if someone is not a citizen or if they do not have a visa for a specific purpose. However, while non-citizens can face deportation for entering the country illegally, harsh criminal penalties also apply for someone who is accused of illegally harboring illegal aliens.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can arrest any person accused of illegally harboring illegal aliens. An experienced criminal lawyer may be able to help you if you are facing charges involving the illegal harboring of an alien. A proactive federal immigration crimes lawyer could help you understand immigration laws and prepare a defense designed to protect your rights.
What does it Mean to Harbor an Alien in Lincoln?
An illegal alien is any person in the United States who is not a citizen, a legal resident alien, or a non-citizen with a visa. Regardless of how these people came to be in the country, they are subject to deportation proceedings if they come into contact with ICE or any other law enforcement agency.
Just as it is illegal for these people to enter the country, it is also illegal to prevent or otherwise hinder law enforcement’s efforts to deport them. Simply having an illegal alien on one’s property as an employee, tenant, or houseguest is considered a criminal offense.
Known as harboring, 8 USC §1324(a)(1)(A)(iii) says that it is illegal for someone to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection any person he or she knows is an illegal alien. If someone harbors an alien for commercial gain, such as an employee, the court may sentence him or her to a prison term of up to ten years.
For everyone else facing these allegations, the maximum prison term is five years. All convictions can also carry heavy fines. A Lincoln harboring an illegal alien lawyer could help an individual understand the law and the potential penalties.
The Concept of Conspiracy and Harboring Illegal Aliens
8 USC §1324(a)(1)(A)(v) also states that is it illegal for any person to aid, abet, or participate in a conspiracy to harbor an illegal alien. This means that, even if an individual does not personally keep an illegal alien on his or her property, he or she may still face charges for harboring.
A conspiracy occurs when two or more people plan to commit an offense. Also, these people must make an overt act towards completing that plan. A Lincoln harboring an illegal alien lawyer could help people facing allegations of a conspiracy connected to the harboring of illegal aliens, and they can work to refute the idea that they participated in any criminal scheme to hide non-citizens.
A Lincoln Harboring an Illegal Alien Attorney Could Help
It is illegal for any person to enter the United States without proper authorization. It is similarly illegal for any individual to hide those people from federal authorities or local police. Simply offering these people a place to live or alerting them to a pending raid may lead to charges alleging harboring. This can even apply to people who take no action themselves but simply work with others to aid in this offense.
A Lincoln harboring an illegal alien lawyer could help you fight these charges. Let the diligent attorneys at Berry Law fight for you. Call today for a confidential consultation.
