Articles Posted in Criminal Procedure


Just because you are in the country illegally doesn’t mean you should have to pay out of state tuition for college, according to one state Senator in Maryland. A New York Criminal Lawyer revealed that the Senator is planning on introducing a new bill that would offer individuals who have attended high school in the state the chance to pay in-state tuition rather than the substantially higher cost of out-of- state tuition. 

The thinking is that once the state has invested money into their public education, then it just makes sense to make sure that they have the means to continue to get a good education so that when they finally do become legal to live in the country, they will be a viable asset to the work force, if they are not already. 

Advocates of this proposal claim that though they may be living in the country illegally, they are still worthwhile citizens and should not be denied an education and a chance to move ahead. Those who oppose such reasoning say that if they have gone through an entire education from grade school to high school illegally and on the taxpayers dime, then why not just give them citizenship outright? After all, they have been here long enough.

Children born to illegal immigrants face legal struggles of citizenship even though they were born here. The expense of becoming a legal citizen is too high for most lower class families to afford, explained the New York Criminal Lawyer. More than an education, these people just want to belong here. Once they are citizens, they would get the same tuition rates and have the same access to scholarships and financial aid as everyone else. 

Legal issues are a challenge no matter where one is in their life.

The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in N York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

Nothing can be more confusing than our judicial system, especially if you are trying to figure it out on your own. Call a New York Criminal Attorney if you have questions or concerns about your case. A New York Criminal Attorney knows the right answers and the fastest ways to get to them. Call today.


There is a new law on the books in Tennessee, according to a N York City Criminal Lawyer. This law requires all jailers to ask each and every detainee two questions. a) Where were you born?
b) Are you in the country legally? Two simple questions that seem innocent enough, but which, in effect, could cause a serious back up in the immigration system if the answers they receive are not straightforward. 

The New York Criminal Lawyer stated the reason for the backup would be that any detainee that they do not get a straight answer from, or one who answers that they are in fact, illegally residing here, an investigation has to be performed. Until the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement gets a hold of these detainees, they are going to have to be housed somewhere. 

Who will pay for such housing during this backlog of a system that is already flooded with detainees? It seems like it will be the taxpayers who foot the bill. Basically, the immigration system is already filled to capacity. Even if authorities decide to detain the individual for deportation, the time will vary on when that occurs. If they opt for the normal avenues, that could take time, as well. 

The NY Criminal Lawyer stated that whether they are detained as an illegal immigrant or a prisoner, they will basically be relying on taxpayers dollars to feed and house them, so really, the law does not change all that much. In the United States, our prison system is already profusely overcrowded. It seems like it might be a better idea to keep people from doing things that would get them prison time in the first place than to just sort them out once they get there. 



The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in New York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

If you are in need of legal representation or you are unsure of your rights, then contact a New York Criminal Attorney today. Look no further than a competent, professional N York Criminal Attorney when it comes to securing your rights as a citizen of the United States.

A new law in California could subject the parents of children who don’t make it to school each day to hefty fines and in extreme cases, jail time. Advocates of this new law claim that the extreme penalties are a good deterrent, keeping parents in line with the compulsory education attendance policies and insuring that their children get the full benefit of their education. 

However, according to the NYC Criminal Lawyer, those who oppose this new law claim that it is just another way to strong arm parents into submission and to take away their freedom to raise their children the way they see fit. While there are extreme cases involving lack of responsibility or concern for the whereabouts of their children, in many cases the truancy fines and penalties are being imposed upon parents who are doing the best they can to make sure their children are at school. 

These parents are good, hardworking people who are living life to the best of their ability and sometimes that involves their children not being in school. Not everyone places the same dogmatic importance on public school as the powers that be would like for us to, opponents of the bill claim. Education should be thought of as a way to enrich a child’s life and not control it. A parent who wishes to keep their child home from school for a day trip to an orchard or a museum could find themselves in hot water if they make a habit of it.

 New York Criminal Lawyers know the same laws that are meant to protect children who have negligent parents can and will affect those parents who have a different ideology when it comes to what life and education are really about. In the case of this new California law, parents could end up facing a year in jail and a $2000 fine. 

Though laws are put into place for the good of all, they can sometimes fall short by hurting the people they are trying to protect.

The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in New York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.

If you find yourself in such a situation, contact a New York Criminal Attorney and find out your rights and what you can do about it. A New York Criminal Attorney will guide you and help you come out on top.

The state of Georgia is taking steps to pass an immigration law similar to that which exists currently in Arizona.

As of March 01, the southern state was in the process of passing a controversial bill that would increase measures to prevent the infiltration, residence and employment of non-U.S. citizens in the state. A N York Criminal Lawyer recognizes that if this measure goes through as planned, Georgia will become the second state to pass such an immigration bill, with Arizona’s current policy being the model.

It is noted that the American Civil Liberties (ACLU) has announced its plan to sue, in the event that the bill includes any freedom on the part of law enforcement to pose question individuals. According to the proponents of this controversial bill, their strong support is due to what they perceive to be a currently insufficient immigration policy. The vote on this proposal is anticipated for the second week of March. The proposal states that one of its main objectives is to tighten security measures by requiring law enforcement officers to request a person’s immigration status. Though it is claimed that reasonable cause must exist for such an inquiry to have validity, there is significant opposition to this proposed measure. It is not stated what parameters exist in reference to “reasonable cause” on the part of law officers, but the threat of lawsuit on the part of the ACLU may very well complicate things.

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