Michael K. Mehr is a nationally recognized expert in the field of immigration consequences of criminal convictions. He lectures widely to immigration attorneys, public defenders, and private criminal defense counsel. Michael has worked with several counties' DA's and sheriff's offices to develop their policies regarding immigration consequences and ICE holds. Bankruptcy / Criminal Defense / Deportation / Post-Conviction Relief
Also, if your criminal defense attorney told you that you would not have problems with immigration by pleading guilty, or failed to discuss with you the immigration-safe pleas, we may be able to petition the criminal court to vacate your conviction because of your attorney’s ineffective assistance.
Traffic Violations
Let's outline what this whole sanctuary policy means - states like California enforce state law (so do cities). The federal government enforces federal law. That's why, for example, when you get caught speeding on the highway - you get pulled over by local police, not the FBI. Respecting the difference between state and federal law is a *key* feature of our e...
Misdemeanors
, No. 05-75210 (9th Cir., November 5, 2010)the Court held that a misdemeanor conviction for false imprisonment under California Penal Code section 236 was not categorically a crime involving moral turpitude. In
Drug Crimes
He is a frequent lecturer at CLE programs including AILA National and California conventions. He was the expert witness in People v. Bautista (2004) 115 CA4th 229 (failure to defend against immigration consequences may be ineffective assistance of counsel) and counsel for the petitioner in Negrete-Ramirez v. Holder, 741 F.3d 1047 (9th Cir 2014) (INA §212(h) waiver not barred for aggravated felons admitted post entry). Mr. Mehr frequently mentors attorneys on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions on listserves, CLE lectures, and webinars. He is a prolific author of amicus briefs on crim-imm issues, and has helped draft and pass legislation in California bringing some equity to noncitizen criminal defendants, notably P.C. §1203.43 (withdrawal of plea for certain minor drug convictions based on misinformation) and amending P.C. §1000 (pre-plea diversion for minor drug offenses).
Isabel was born and raised in Brazil to immigrant parents from Bolivia. She has exclusively worked representing clients in removal defense and family-based immigration cases from the beginning of her career as an attorney. Isabel is a member of the California State Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Isabel is fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.Â
Removal Defense
Michael K. Mehr, ESQ., B.A. 1973, University of California, Santa Cruz (with honors); J.D., 1976, University of San Francisco School of Law. Mr. Mehr is an attorney in private practice in Santa Cruz, California who has practiced removal defense and post-conviction relief since 1979. He is coauthor of Defending Immigrants in the Ninth Circuit: Impact of Crimes Under California and Other State Laws (10th ed 2008 ILRC) by Katherine A. Brady, Norton Tooby and Angie Junck and a co-author of “Representing the Noncitizen Criminal Defendant†in California Criminal Law Procedure and Practice (Cal CEB 2008-2019).