On Election Day 2016, Californians voted in favor of Proposition 64, or
the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Proposition 64, decriminalizes marijuana
possession for adults over the age of 21 and reduces certain marijuana
offenses to infractions under state law for individuals between the ages
of 18 and 20. Not only does the legalization of marijuana in the state
attempt to rectify some of the unintended consequences of the “War
on Drugs,” it has some positive implications for California’s
immigration population. California is the place of residence for a quarter
of the total foreign-born population in the U.S., or over 10 million immigrants.
In fact, one out of every two California children live with a head of
household who is foreign-born. According to the
Immigrant Legal Resource Center
(ILRC), many legal permanent residents and undocumented immigrants have
been the recipients of excessive penalties as a result of marijuana-related
criminal convictions. Many of these convictions directly led these individuals
to prolonged periods of detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE), loss of green cards, and deportation. However, for immigrants it
is important to keep caution. Marijuana is still a federally controlled
substance. This means that despite California state law, the federal immigration
authorities can still deny visas, green cards and other benefits to those
who are inadmissible due to controlled substance offenses and violations.
Not only can we help defend you against deportation from the United States,
but we also can advocate on your behalf so that you can be released from
detention and continue to work, if at all possible. Contact your immigration
law attorneys at
Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., today, at (510) 756-4468. We will schedule a consultation for you to
meet with one of our skilled and experienced deportation defense lawyers
as quickly as possible. Do not delay in contacting us, so that we can
begin helping you!
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As of February 2021, we are open again and accepting in-office consultations.
If you want to know more about the Biden's Proposed Immigration Reform, watch our video!