Advanced Issues in Criminal Law: Crimmigration LAW 606G

Course Number: LAW 606G

Course Credits: 2

This course will focus on the intersection between criminal law and immigration law from the perspective of criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors. After revisiting core aspects of the criminal justice process, we will look at the federal statutory framework that assigns immigration consequences to criminal-justice outcomes. We will then examine the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Padilla v. Kentucky on the expectations for defense counsel (as well as prosecutorial considerations). With Padilla’s lessons in hand, the course will look more closely at the immigration consequences of certain kinds of criminal convictions, the ramifications for structuring plea agreements, and the post-conviction processes by which criminal defendants can challenge convictions. Finally, we will explore critical perspectives on crimmigration. In addition to the open-book final exam, students will participate in simulation exercises. Prior exposure to immigration law may be helpful but is not a prerequisite for this course, which approaches the subject matter from a criminal practitioner’s perspective as opposed to that of an immigration attorney. The goal of this course is to provide aspiring criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors with a solid foundation in this complex area.