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Eduardo Paredes is chief legal officer at his law offices with locations in Los Angeles, C and in Fresno, California. Eduardo Paredes is particularly knowledgeable about the intersection of immigration and criminal law which involve the criminal defense of clients followed by vigorous deportation defense before the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review. Deportation or Removal proceedings are generally initiated by the filing of a document entitled Notice to Appear generated by the Department of Homeland Security. The Notice to Appear sets forth charges and allegations as to why the Department of Homeland Security seeks to remove (deport) an alien from the United States. An alien served with a Notice to Appear is better equipped with an attorney who is competent practicing immigration law in order to make the best case possible to seek relief from removal. Though an alien has the right to be represented by an attorney in Immigration Court, the Immigration Court itself cannot provide public defenders to represent indigent aliens. Instead, each alien is responsible of securing their own counsel at their own expense. A viable form of relief before the Immigration Court includes cancellation of removal or non-permanent residents. For this relief, an alien must have resided in the United States at least 10 years prior to being placed in removal proceedings, and must establish that their removal (deportation) from the United States will result in extreme and unusual hardship to their citizen or resident children under the age of 21, their citizen or resident parents, or that their citizen or resident spouse will suffer extreme hardship on account of the person's removal. However, an alien with a criminal record will have to overcome certain bars from seeking such relief. Other forms of relief are available for aliens who have been granted lawful permanent resident status. At that point, an alien must seek relief from removal on account of their criminal history. These cases require in depth knowledge of the intersection of immigration and criminal law. This is an area of expertise for Attorney Eduardo Paredes who has represented clients from arrest, through trial in criminal court, through trial before the U.S. Immigration Court.                            

With a focus on criminal and immigration law, Eduardo Paredes opened his own law practice in Los Angeles in 2002. The Law Firm of Eduardo Paredes has locations in Fresno as well, and represents clients in cases where immigration issues overlap with criminal law. The intersection between immigration and criminal law is at a critical juncture. Though a person may be allowed to live in the United States legally once they are conferred a lawful permanent resident status, that status is jeopardized if the immigrant commits a crime that can render the immigrant removable (deportable) from the United States. Thus, after a criminal conviction, anyone who is not a citizen of the United States will have to face the immigration consequences of their conviction. This means that after the immigrant completes any term of sentence imposed by the criminal court, the immigrant will have to respond to immigration authorities. If the immigration authorities finds that the immigrant has been convicted of a crime that renders the immigrant deportable, then the immigration service may institute removal proceedings in order to remove the immigrant from the United States. It is at this juncture that the immigrant will have to establish that the are eligible to seek relief to avoid removal from the United States. The type of relief that the immigrant may have available depends on a wide variety of factors, such as the legal status of the immigrant at the time of conviction, the offense for which the person was convicted, the sentence imposed, the family ties the immigrant has in the United States, and well as other factors that deal with whether the immigrant can demonstrate rehabilitation and whether the immigrant deserves such relief. Therefore, the intersection between immigration and criminal law is a complicated area of law that requires expertise in criminal law as well as immigration law.                           

After studying history at UCLA, Eduardo Paredes continued his education by pursuing a JD from Whittier College School of Law, and has been privately practicing law since 2002. His firm, the Law Offices of Eduardo Paredes, concentrates on immigration and criminal law in its Los Angeles and Fresno locations. In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown signed several bills addressing immigration topics, and, as of January 1, 2016, the new laws are in effect. One bans the word “alien” in California’s labor code, as it is seen as derogatory toward individuals born outside of the United States. The measure aims to recognize the diversity of California and the contributions of its multicultural population. The author of the legislation, State Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) believes the word shift modernizes state labor law and removes any negative connotations that may be associated with foreign-born individuals. The measure amends a 1937 law that states that United States citizens should be hired before any “aliens” for public works projects. Though a portion of that law was repealed in 1970, the term “alien” remained in the labor code until the passing of this new law.

For more than 13 years, Eduardo Paredes has maintained a private law practice in Los Angeles, California. Eduardo Paredes draws on extensive experience defending clients against criminal charges. According to federal law, the government must provide an attorney to any criminal defendant who cannot afford private representation. However, in the 52 years since the Supreme Court required appointed legal service, the number of individuals in prison has increased tenfold. This has resulted in a regular exceeding of recommended caseload limits for many public defenders, who now often have 18 months of work to complete over the course of a single year. This means that defenders often do not have enough available hours to spend on a client's case. Because public defenders often lack the time to assess a case, they frequently recommend a guilty plea, which 90 to 95 percent of public defense clients ultimately submit. Quality can also suffer when states lack the money to fairly pay public defenders, largely because of the stigma against criminal defendants. Private defenders, however, are able to require fair compensation and allocate their hours based on the needs of their clients. They are also less intimately involved with the internal politics of the courthouse itself and, as a result, are often able to provide more objective representation.

A privately practicing attorney in Los Angeles, Eduardo Paredes has defended clients in matters ranging from misdemeanors to felonies. Eduardo Paredes draws on an in-depth knowledge of sentencing laws, including those related to gang activity. In the state of California, evidence of participation in gang activity can increase the severity of a convicted defendant's criminal sentence. These enhancements, as they are known, fall under the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act (or gang enhancements), known colloquially as the state STEP Act. The act has two parts, the first of which is not an enhancement law, but rather, the defining of gang activity as a crime. Under this law, Penal Code 186.22(a) PC, one can receive a criminal sentence for gang activity alone. Many people are unaware that seemingly minor contact and association with documented gang members may trigger a finding that a defendant has committed an offense for the benefit and in furtherance of a known street gang. The criminal liability for the gang enhancements is problematic to the accused because it raises the term of any possible sentence to a longer term. Penal Code 186.22(b) calls for sentencing enhancement if a crime benefits a gang. Enhancements vary, based on the severity and type of the crime, the most severe penalties being related to violent felonies. To receive a penalty enhancement, the defendant need not be an active member of a gang or primarily responsible for the crime. The prosecuting attorney only needs to prove that the criminal activity was benefited or was committed for the benefit or in furtherance of the gang activity.

Attorney Eduardo Paredes has maintained a solo practice with offices in Los Angeles and Fresno, CA since 2002. There, Eduardo Paredes welcomes individuals facing criminal charges as well as those involved in immigration proceedings. Representing clients in criminal and immigration defense cases leverages Attorney Eduardo Paredes above the cut of other attorneys who may not practice each of the areas of the law. This is particularly critical in defending non-U.S. citizens in criminal cases because a non-United States citizen who has had run-ins with the law will have to endure the immigration consequences that are likely to rise if the person is convicted of a crime. When the United States deports a noncitizen to another country, the individual may be disqualified from seeking to return to the United States for a great length of time. In fact, some offenses will wait a specified period of time before attempting reentry. The exact duration of inadmissibility, which can range from five years to life, depends on the process by which removal occurred and the individual's criminal history. If a removed noncitizen attempts to return before the end of his or her ban, he or she may be charged with a federal crime and/or removed again with or without the possibility of a hearing. For some, illegal reentry results in the reinstatement of original removal orders. In such cases, an immigration officer may demand that the noncitizen return to the nation to which he or she was deported. However, officials may alternatively elect to begin a new removal process against the individual, during which he or she may apply for such relief options as asylum or cancellation. If authorities elect to prosecute the illegal reentry, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years and fines, and the person is convicted, the person will be removed after they serve their prison sentence.                            

A member of the California State Bar, Eduardo Paredes specializes in immigration and criminal law at his private law practice in Los Angeles. In this capacity, Eduardo Paredes represents clients facing deportation after they are charged with felonies and misdemeanors. Even while holding a green card or visa, immigrants can be deported from the United States for a variety of reasons, such as voting illegally, committing marriage fraud, or posing a threat to national security. In addition, those who are convicted of criminal activity face deportation. However, only specific crimes lead to removal from the United States. As dictated by national immigration law, the government may deport those who are convicted of any number of aggravated felonies, including theft, drug trafficking, illegal re-entry after a previous deportation, and helping other undocumented immigrants enter the country. In addition, those who are convicted of crimes of moral turpitude may be deported from the country. Dictated by the courts, these crimes typically signify that a person has violated community-wide standards of morality, such as committing perjury or murder. After being deported, an immigrant must typically wait five, 10, or 20 years before reapplying for a visa. For example, an immigrant who commits an aggravated felony may not apply to re-enter the country for 20 years. Upon receiving an application, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines whether an immigrant is allowed to re-enter the country by evaluating a number of factors, such as the reason for initial removal and the applicant’s rehabilitation efforts.                            

For nearly 15 years, Eduardo Paredes has served as a criminal and immigration law specialist at law offices in Fresno and Los Angeles, California. Throughout his career, Eduardo Paredes has focused on a number of legal areas, including the effects of holding a criminal record. If you have been convicted of criminal activity, you may incur a wide range of ongoing consequences. For example, many institutions consider criminal history when evaluating employment applications. Certain crimes may render you ineligible to hold teaching or regulatory agency positions. However, California law limits an employer’s use of background checks when selecting employees, restricting them from seeing arrests that occurred more than seven years prior to application and any pardoned crimes. As dictated by the 14th Amendment, states may bar you from voting after you are convicted of a crime. While specific laws vary by state, California law prohibits you from voting while imprisoned or on parole for a felony. After release, you must reregister to vote in the future. A felony conviction can lead to a number of other consequences, such as a lifetime ban on purchasing or owning firearms, enlisting in the Armed Forces without a waiver from the Secretary of Defense, and serving on a jury without first restoring your civil rights. In addition, you may face deportation if you are not a citizen of the United States.                            

A criminal defense attorney handling cases in Los Angeles and Fresno, California, Eduardo Paredes has succeeded in getting many of his clients fully exonerated and released. To better serve his clients, Eduardo Paredes keeps current on new legislation that may affect their cases, such as Proposition 47. In November of 2014, California passed Proposition 47, which mandated sentencing reform for certain offenses that are not defined as a "serious felony" under the California Penal Code. A serious felony may encompass a variety of crimes, however, most offenses deemed a serious felony are crimes of violence. Under California law, a serious felony is what most people know as a "strike" offense. A strike offense may lead to increased punishment for any other offense that occurs after the conviction of the first strike offense. A person convicted of their 3rd strike offense faces a lifetime prison sentence. The new legislation reduces the sentence imposed for imprisonment. This applies to people who have yet been convicted of their offense. For people who have already been sentenced as a felon and have served their sentence, California Penal Code Section 1170.18 allows the individual to petition the court to reclassify the offense as a misdemeanor. The statute requires that all people who have been sentenced to file their petitions under Prop 47 within 3 years of the November 5, 2014. If a petition is not filed within the three (3) years, the person will have to establish good cause for the delay in order to have the offense reclassified after the expiration of the three year statute of limitations. Not all offenses are eligible for re-sentencing and re-classification. People will encounter obstacles for crimes that involve a firearm or for which the offense include the elements of violence and injury to the victim. If your offense involves the use of a firearm, or any other weapon, you should consult with an experienced attorney to determine if the offense may be reclassified. Prop 47 was passed by vote by the People of the State of California. Depending on the nature of your offense, you may need an attorney to present your case because not all judges agree with the re-sentencing schemes and people may find "activist judges" who may pose a hurdle in getting the offense re-classified.

Attorney Eduardo Paredes has approximately a decade and a half of experience representing clients in criminal and immigration cases. Eduardo Paredes shares his expertise on a Los Angeles daily radio show each week, allowing listeners to call in to discuss their cases. For a non-U.S. citizen, a criminal conviction can result in deportation by the federal government. The following are offenses that may trigger removal (deportation) from the United States. It is critical to know that any person that is not a citizen of the United States, even if the person is a permanent resident (green card holder) or even if the person was allowed into this country with a legal travel document. 1. An aggravated felony which includes crimes of violence, certain theft offenses, certain fraud offense, sex crimes, drug crimes, and firearm crimes. A person who is classified as an aggravated felon will be deported without a chance to get a waiver to avoid deportation because Congress does not allow a waiver for offenses that fall under the broad category of an aggravated felony. In fact, in California, certain crimes, such as assault with a deadly weapon, in violation of California Penal Code Section 245(a) may be adjudged by the state court to be a misdemeanor, but depending on the sentence imposed, may result in a conviction of an aggravated felony under federal law. 2. Domestic violence crimes: This includes offenses committed against a spouse or child. However, domestic violence may also include anyone who lives within the same household where the parties share an intimate relationship. An intimate relationship does not require that the people be sexually involved. 3. Failure to register as a sex offender, in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. 4. Firearm offenses, including the purchase, sale, use, and possession of guns, or attempting or conspiring to do so. There are many other offenses that may constitute an aggravated felony. Therefore, it is critical that you consult with an attorney who is experienced in the practice of criminal and immigration law in order to defend your rights in the best manner possible.

A longtime attorney with many years of experience in the state of California, Eduardo Paredes operates his own solo practice in Fresno and Los Angeles. In this capacity, Eduardo Paredes represents clients in a wide range of legal proceedings and helps them understand their rights during interactions with the police. Because traffic stops represent the most common form of civilian-police interaction, it is important to know your rights and exercise them in an appropriate manner. When it comes to searching your car, police officers must identify evidence of illegal activity, commonly referred to as “probable cause.” Without probable cause, the only way a police officer can legally search your vehicle is by obtaining your consent. Police officers will often try to obtain your consent via “gotcha” questions, such as, “If you’re really innocent, then you should have nothing to hide, right?” Don’t fall for such traps, though; you always have the right to remain silent and avoid incriminating yourself. In a respectful tone, tell the police officer that you do not consent to any searches of your vehicle. Above all else, stay calm and collected. Your goal should be to de-escalate the situation and establish mutual respect, all while exercising your constitutional rights.                            

Experienced in immigration law, attorney Eduardo Paredes handles cases from his offices in Los Angeles and Fresno, California. Eduardo Paredes also possesses a wealth of experience trying criminal misdemeanor and felony cases. A criminal conviction comes with lifelong consequences that impact quality of education and access to financial services. For example, citizens reentering society will find that some higher education institutions view a conviction as a justifiable reason to reject admission into college. Likewise, organizations offering scholarships, student loans, and even student housing can deny a formerly incarcerated individual’s application based on criminal history. In terms of financial services, lenders evaluate credit scores, income history, and criminal records to determine a person’s ability to repay a loan as well as their trustworthiness. Those applying for a home loan or other forms of credit have a higher risk of not receiving approval from financial institutions if they have a conviction on file. To understand the full collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, seeking the guidance of an attorney proficient in criminal law is advised. The legal counselor can also offer advice on a person’s right to have a criminal record expunged. What is more, for a person who is not a citizen of the United States, their criminal conviction can expose them from permanent removal (deportation) from the United States without the possibility of being able to return. The intersection of immigration law and criminal law is a complicated path in that immigration law definitions of deportable offenses are generally based on the elements set forth in the United States Code. Sometimes a state crime does not completely match the elements of the federal code, and under such federal immigration law, the consequences may be much more severe than contemplated. Similar collateral consequences may attach to other facets of one's life, such as place in risk their jobs, ability to purchase and maintain firearms, even your state or social security disability benefits can be affected. This is one of the reasons that an accused is better off being represented by a privately retained attorney in order to assure that your specific priorities are addressed.                            

A bilingual attorney, Eduardo Paredes represents clients in both immigration and criminal cases. With a successful track record resulting in dismissalS, exonerations, as well as hard fought victories after jury trials, Attorney Eduardo Paredes shares his expertise on a daily Los Angeles radio show, where listeners can dial-in to ask questions about criminal law as well as immigration law. In the state of California, a criminal misdemeanor is punishable with sentence of a year or less in county jail. Time served does not exceed a year and is directly based on the type of offense. Individuals charged with a standard offense, such as public intoxication or petty theft, face the possibility of spending half a year in a county jail and paying a fine up to $1,000. More severe circumstances that warrant an aggravated misdemeanor charge increase potential jail time to the maximum of one year with fines upwards of $2,000. Aggravated misdemeanors include violation of California’s domestic battery law and driving with a suspended license while intoxicated and causing injury. To reduce the negative impacts of a misdemeanor, such as revocation of professional licenses and loss of a job, a person and attorney can file a motion to have the record expunged. Under California Penal Code 1203.4 PC, eligible parties who have completed probation, are not serving a sentence, and not currently charged with a criminal offense may be considered. Successful expungement offers a fresh start for previously convicted individuals.                            

Attorney Eduardo Paredes represents clients charged with violations of criminal and immigration law. Educated in California, he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California – Los Angeles, and his law degree from Whittier Law School. Eduardo Paredes went into private practice in 2002 when he opened an office in Los Angeles, and has since opened a second office in Fresno. Many people think of criminal charges against a defendant as having only one consequence: a prison sentence. This is often called “paying one’s debt to society,” and implies that once the sentence is served and any associated fines paid, the ex-convict is free to resume normal life with a clean slate. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. One of the first things most ex-convicts learn is that it’s very difficult to secure decent employment with a criminal conviction on their record. Most types of government employment are off-limits; many private employers have similar policies. Lawyers convicted of any felony are usually disbarred, and other professionals convicted of felonies, especially in their own field, may likewise find their professional licenses revoked. Felons aren’t stripped of their citizenship, but they are stripped of many of the civil rights associated with citizenship. For example, most states strip a felon of the right to vote, and few ever restore that right. Likewise, ex-convicts are not permitted to sit on any kind of a jury. Another important civil right lost is the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. In Virginia, for example, someone who has been convicted of a violent felony who is subsequently convicted of possessing or transporting a firearm is subject to a mandatory five-year term in prison. Some crimes come with their own collateral consequences. People convicted of sex crimes generally must, for the rest of their lives, register as sex offenders with their local police department. Those convicted of drug offenses often lose their eligibility to live in public housing, receive government education benefits, or participate in the federal food stamp program.                            

Eduardo Paredes, an experienced California attorney, has represented clients in their criminal cases in California state courts as well as in federal criminal courts.  The California Penal Code is one of the toughest in the country.  Besides the possibilities of being convicted of a general crime, such as a theft, vandalism, or crime of violence, the California Penal Code makes it possible for people to be charged with the principal offense as well as enhancements. The California Penal Code allows a judge to impose a stricter sentence when it is shown that an accused has acted in an attempt to benefit a street gang.  This is how you can get arrested in California for a simple vandalism offense and get additional time if the vandalism purports to include the moniker of a street gang.  What is more, the fact that the accused is a part of a street gang may be enough for a prosecutor to push for a heightened sentence.  Additionally, California law also adds stricter punishment when a firearm is used in the commission of an offense.  Thus, and individual who commits a crime of violence may be subjected to additional years of imprisonment when a firearm is used in the commission of the offense. Even if a person is mistakenly killed during the commission of an offense, prosecutors can seek that the accused be charged with murder, even if the person killed was a bystander or an un-involved civilian who happens to be at or around the crime scene. Through more than a dozen years of practicing law, Attorney Eduardo Paredes has built effective advocacy skills that enables him to defend his clients against crime enhancements.  The police will always classify the accused in the worst possible manner in order to assure that the accused is incarcerated.  In order to avoid getting sentenced under California's tough sentencing scheme, it is critical to retain the services of competent attorney with extensive experience in California criminal law.  Attorney Eduardo Paredes has represented clients from arrest through jury trial.  As such, Attorney Eduardo Paredes knows what is necessary in order to effectively represent a client's interests and rights.                            

Attorney Eduardo Paredes notes that a skilled practitioner must be competent in criminal law as well as immigration law in order to defend the rights of an individual who is not a citizen.  Having experience in both criminal law and immigration law has aided Attorney Eduardo Paredes to effectively represent clients in both areas of laws while protecting their ability to remain in the United States.                                 

Since 2002, criminal defense attorney Eduardo Paredes has operated his private practice in Los Angeles, California.  Shortly thereafter, Attorney Eduardo Paredes opened his Fresno, California office.  Attorney Eduardo Paredes represents clients in criminal cases from arrest through trial. Criminal defense attorneys are not responsible for determining whether a client is guilty; rather, the attorney's job is to represent the defendant to the fullest possible extent, and to provide options and possibilities for how the defense will proceed. The prosecution will provide as much evidence of the defendant's guilt as possible to move the jury toward conviction; the defense attorney attempts to either prove the client's innocence by directing jurors to inconsistencies and deficiencies in the district attorney's theory of the case.  In short, a criminal defense attorney represents an accused's constitutional rights to ensure that the accuused receives due process of law. Attorney Eduardo Paredes has cross-examined civilian witnesses, police officers, detectives, prosecution expert witnesses such as criminalists and chemists in order to protect the rights of individual's accused of a crime.  Visit jailorbail.com to contact Attorney Eduardo Paredes.