In 2010, the Supreme Court's Padilla v. Kentucky decision required criminal defense attorneys to inform clients about the immigration consequences of criminal charges or plea deals. This decision highlighted the importance of careful criminal pleading to keep immigrant families together, especially in the face of strict immigration laws and rising ICE detainers.
Founded in 2014, the Dallas Public Defender’s immigration advisal program was the first of its kind in Texas. It provides written guidance to public defenders and court-appointed attorneys on the immigration impact of criminal charges and plea deals for noncitizen clients and helps negotiate immigration-neutral outcomes. The program also offers local and statewide training for defense attorneys and judges.
