Criminal crossover · 142 terms

Criminal crossover vocabulary: English to Spanish

Where a criminal record meets immigration law. The terms are a hybrid: statute sections, criminal charge names, and the immigration consequences attached to them. Court interpreters moving into immigration work usually know half of this module and need the other half.

Source codes: USCIS means the USCIS glossary and Spanish form instructions, EOIR the Spanish respondent materials EOIR publishes. CF means CourtFluent wrote the rendition and reviewed it; it is not from an official source, so prefer a USCIS or EOIR rendition when one is shown. A rendition shown with an official source is the safer choice on an exam.

EnglishSpanish renditions · sources
212(a)(2) criminal grounds of inadmissibility
causales penales de inadmisibilidad de la sección 212(a)(2)CF
212(h) waiver
Waives CIMT, prostitution and one marijuana possession ground; not aggravated felonies after LPR admission.
perdón 212(h)CF · exención de causales penales bajo la sección 212(h)CF
212(i) waiver
Fraud or misrepresentation; requires extreme hardship to a citizen or LPR spouse or parent.
perdón 212(i)CF · exención por fraude bajo la sección 212(i)CF
237(a)(2) criminal grounds of removability
causales penales de expulsión de la sección 237(a)(2)CF
admission of a controlled substance offense
Inadmissible on an admission alone if the elements are explained first (Matter of K-).
admisión de haber cometido un delito de sustancias controladasCF
admission of sufficient facts
Counts as a conviction if a penalty was imposed.
admisión de hechos suficientesCF
adverse factors
factores adversosCF
aggravated felony
INA 101(a)(43); the EOIR guide's 'delito con agravante' is loose. 'Felonía agravada' is a calque many interpreters use.
delito grave agravadoCF · delito con agravanteEOIR · felonía agravadaCF
alien smuggling
contrabando de extranjerosEOIR · tráfico de personasCF
arrest report
informe de arrestoUSCIS
arrested
arrestadoUSCIS
assault with a deadly weapon
Typically a CIMT and often a crime of violence.
agresión con arma mortalCF · agresión con arma mortíferaCF
attempt or conspiracy
101(a)(43)(U): attempts and conspiracies to commit an aggravated felony count.
tentativa o conspiraciónCF · intento o asociación para delinquirCF
balancing test
ponderación de factoresCF
burglary
allanamiento de moradaCF · robo con allanamientoCF
categorical approach
English term from BIA and circuit case law; Spanish is CF.
enfoque categóricoCF
certified disposition
disposición certificadaCF · resolución certificada del casoCF
charges dismissed
cargos desestimadosCF · acusaciones anuladasEOIR
child abuse
abuso de menoresCF · maltrato infantilCF
child endangerment
Can fall under the child abuse ground.
poner en peligro a un menorCF · exposición de un menor al peligroCF
CIMT
delito de vileza moralEOIR
CIMT within five years of admission
237(a)(2)(A)(i): also needs a possible sentence of a year or more.
delito de vileza moral dentro de los cinco años de la admisiónCF
controlled substance
sustancia controladaCF · sustancia reguladaEOIR
controlled substance ground
237(a)(2)(B) and 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II).
causal por sustancias controladasCF · causal de drogasCF
controlled substance offense
delito de sustancias controladasCF · delito relacionado con sustancias reguladasEOIR
convicted
condenadoUSCIS · convictoUSCIS
conviction
Immigration definition at INA 101(a)(48) is broader than state law.
condenaUSCIS
conviction for immigration purposes
condena para efectos de inmigraciónCF
crime involving moral turpitude
delito de vileza moralEOIR · delito de bajeza moralCF · delito que implica depravación moralCF
crime of domestic violence
Deportability ground.
delito de violencia domésticaUSCIS
crime of violence
18 USC 16.
delito con violenciaEOIR · delito violentoCF
crime of violence aggravated felony
101(a)(43)(F): crime of violence with a sentence of at least one year; the residual clause fell in Sessions v. Dimaya.
delito grave agravado por delito violentoCF
criminal alien
extranjero con antecedentes penalesCF
criminal complaint
US charging instrument; not the Central American 'denuncia' a victim files.
acusación formalCF · denuncia penalCF
criminal history
antecedentes penalesUSCIS · historial delictivoCF
danger to the security of the United States
peligro para la seguridad de Estados UnidosUSCIS
deferred adjudication
adjudicación diferidaCF
deportable for a criminal conviction
deportable por una condena penalCF
detained by police
detenido por la policíaUSCIS
divisible statute
Lists alternative elements; allows the modified categorical approach (Descamps, Mathis).
estatuto divisibleCF · ley penal divisibleCF
document fraud
fraude de documentosEOIR
domestic battery
agresión domésticaCF · maltrato físico en el hogarCF
domestic violence ground of removability
237(a)(2)(E): domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, protection order violations.
causal de expulsión por violencia domésticaCF
driving under the influence
conducir bajo la influencia del alcohol o drogasUSCIS
drug abuser or addict
Inadmissibility ground.
drogadicto o consumidor de drogasCF
drug trafficking
narcotráficoCF · tráfico de drogasCF
drug trafficking aggravated felony
101(a)(43)(B); includes any federal felony under the Controlled Substances Act.
delito grave agravado por narcotráficoCF
DUI
USCIS: 'conducir bajo la influencia del alcohol o drogas'; a DUI is a disqualifying misdemeanor for DACA.
conducir bajo la influenciaUSCIS · manejar ebrioCF
elements of the offense
Elements, not facts, decide the categorical match.
elementos del delitoCF
expungement
Usually does not erase the conviction for immigration purposes.
eliminación de antecedentesCF · borrado del expedienteCF
false claim to citizenship
declaración falsa de ciudadaníaCF · afirmar falsamente ser ciudadanoCF
felony
delito graveUSCIS · feloníaCF
felony reduced to a misdemeanor
California Prop 47 and PC 17(b) reductions; the BIA gives them effect for the misdemeanor label but not always for the sentence.
delito grave reducido a delito menorCF
firearms ground
237(a)(2)(C); removability only, no inadmissibility counterpart.
causal por armas de fuegoCF
firearms offense
delito relacionado con armas de fuegoEOIR
first offender program
State drug diversion; no longer gets Federal First Offender Act treatment outside the Ninth Circuit.
programa para primer infractorCF · programa de primera ofensaCF
forgery
CIMT; aggravated felony with a one-year sentence.
falsificaciónCF · falsificación de documentosCF
Form I-247A
The detainer form.
Formulario I-247ACF
fraud offenses
Almost always CIMTs (Jordan v. De George).
delitos de fraudeCF
fraud or deceit
Aggravated felony if loss exceeds $10,000.
fraude o engañoCF
fraud or deceit with loss over $10,000
101(a)(43)(M)(i); loss to the victim, Nijhawan v. Holder.
fraude o engaño con pérdida superior a diez mil dólaresCF
full and unconditional pardon
Executive pardon waives certain removability grounds under 237(a)(2)(A)(vi).
indulto pleno e incondicionalCF
guilty plea
declaración de culpabilidadEOIR
ICE hold
retención de ICECF
illegal entry
8 U.S.C. 1325; the criminal charge, as opposed to entry without inspection as a civil ground.
entrada ilegalCF · ingreso ilegalCF
illicit trafficking in a controlled substance
tráfico ilícito de una sustancia controladaCF
immigration consequences of a plea
Padilla v. Kentucky advisal.
consecuencias migratorias de la declaración de culpabilidadCF
immigration detainer
Form I-247A.
orden de retención migratoriaCF · retención de ICECF
inadmissible for a criminal conviction
inadmisible por una condena penalCF
infraction
Usually not a conviction for immigration purposes (Matter of Eslamizar).
infracciónCF · faltaCF
intent to permanently deprive
Makes theft a CIMT; joyriding is not (Matter of Diaz-Lizarraga softened this).
intención de privar permanentementeCF
judgment of conviction
sentencia condenatoriaCF · fallo condenatorioCF
juvenile adjudication
Not a conviction (Matter of Devison); conduct can still matter for discretion.
fallo de tribunal de menoresCF · resolución en juzgado juvenilCF
law enforcement agency
agencia del orden públicoUSCIS · entidad policialUSCIS
least culpable conduct
Minimum conduct test under the categorical approach.
conducta mínima punibleCF · la conducta menos grave que castiga la leyCF
material support
apoyo materialCF
misdemeanor
delito menorUSCIS
modified categorical approach
English term from BIA and circuit case law; Spanish is CF.
enfoque categórico modificadoCF
money laundering
lavado de dineroEOIR
murder, rape, or sexual abuse of a minor
101(a)(43)(A); no sentence requirement.
homicidio doloso o violación o abuso sexual de un menorCF
negative factors
factores negativosEOIR
no charges filed
no se presentaron cargosUSCIS
no contest plea
declaración de no contestaciónCF · nolo contendereCF
obstruction of justice
obstrucción de la justiciaUSCIS
one year or more
Aggravated felony threshold for many offenses.
de un año o másEOIR
Padilla advisal
advertencia PadillaCF
parole (criminal)
Criminal parole, not immigration parole.
libertad condicionalCF · libertad bajo palabraCF
particularly serious crime
Bar to asylum and withholding.
delito particularmente graveCF · delito serio particularUSCIS
perjury
perjurioUSCIS
persecutor bar
veto por haber perseguido a otrosCF
petty offense exception
excepción por delito menorCF
plea agreement
The EOIR guide prints 'acuerdo declatorio (plea agreement)'.
acuerdo declaratorioCF · acuerdo de culpabilidadCF
plea colloquy
diálogo de aceptación de culpabilidadCF · audiencia de declaración de culpabilidadCF
plead guilty
declararse culpableEOIR
positive equities
factores positivosEOIR · factores favorablesCF
possession of drug paraphernalia
Controlled substance ground only if tied to a federally listed drug (Mellouli v. Lynch).
posesión de parafernalia de drogasCF · posesión de utensilios para drogasCF
possession of marijuana under 30 grams
Exception to the drug ground.
posesión de menos de treinta gramos de marihuanaCF
possession with intent to distribute
Drug trafficking aggravated felony.
posesión con intención de distribuirCF · posesión con fines de ventaCF
post-conviction relief
recurso posterior a la condenaCF
pretrial diversion
desvío previo al juicioCF · programa de desvíoCF
probation
The EOIR guide uses 'libertad condicional' for probation; many interpreters say 'probatoria' or 'libertad a prueba'.
libertad condicionalEOIR · probatoriaCF
probation officer
oficial de libertad condicionalEOIR · oficial de probatoriaCF
probation violation
'Probatoria' is the courthouse calque.
violación de la libertad a pruebaCF · violación de la probatoriaCF
prostitution
prostituciónUSCIS
public defender
defensor públicoCF · abogado de oficioEOIR
realistic probability test
Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez: the state must actually prosecute the broader conduct.
criterio de probabilidad realistaCF
reason to believe
212(a)(2)(C) drug trafficker ground needs no conviction.
motivos razonables para creerCF · razón para creerCF
receiving stolen property
CIMT when knowledge is an element.
recepción de bienes robadosCF · receptaciónCF
reckless conduct
Reckless offenses are not crimes of violence (Borden v. United States).
conducta imprudenteCF · conducta temerariaCF
record of conviction
expediente de la condenaCF · acta de condenaCF
rehabilitation
rehabilitaciónEOIR
section 101(a)(43)
sección 101(a)(43)CF · la definición de delito grave agravadoCF
sentence enhancement
Gang and weapon enhancements can push a sentence past one year.
agravante de la penaCF · aumento de la penaCF
sentence imposed
sentencia impuestaUSCIS · pena impuestaCF
sentence modification
Matter of Cota-Vargas honored it; Matter of Thomas and Thompson (2019) requires a substantive reason.
modificación de la sentenciaCF · reducción de la penaCF
sentence of a year or more
sentencia de un año o másEOIR
serious nonpolitical crime
delito grave no políticoCF · crimen no político serioUSCIS
sexual abuse of a minor
Aggravated felony regardless of sentence; Esquivel-Quintana sets 16 as the generic age for statutory rape.
abuso sexual de un menorCF
Shepard documents
Charging document, plea colloquy, plea agreement and judgment; what the modified categorical approach may consult.
documentos ShepardCF · documentos del expediente penal admisiblesCF
shoplifting
Theft offense; a CIMT in most states.
hurto en tiendaCF · robo en tiendaCF
significant misdemeanor
DACA standard.
delito menor significativoUSCIS
simple assault
Generally not a CIMT.
agresión simpleCF · lesiones levesCF
simple possession
posesión simpleEOIR
single scheme of criminal misconduct
Exception to the two-CIMT ground.
un mismo plan de conducta delictivaCF · esquema único de conducta delictivaCF
some form of punishment, penalty, or restraint
Second prong of the conviction definition.
alguna forma de castigo o pena o restricción de la libertadCF
statute of conviction
ley bajo la cual fue condenadoCF · estatuto de la condenaCF
statutory rape
'Estupro' is the Latin American code term, though its elements differ by country.
estuproCF · relaciones sexuales con un menor de edadCF
suspended sentence
Counts as imposed for immigration purposes.
sentencia suspendidaUSCIS
term of imprisonment
término de prisiónCF · pena de prisiónCF
terrorism-related inadmissibility ground
causal de inadmisibilidad por terrorismoCF
theft offense
hurtoEOIR · delito de roboCF
theft or burglary aggravated felony
101(a)(43)(G), sentence of at least one year.
delito grave agravado por robo o allanamiento de moradaCF
time in custody
tiempo en custodiaUSCIS
time served
tiempo cumplidoCF
two or more crimes involving moral turpitude
237(a)(2)(A)(ii), any time after admission.
dos o más delitos de vileza moralCF
vacated conviction
condena anuladaCF
vacated for a substantive defect
Matter of Pickering: no longer a conviction for immigration purposes.
anulada por un defecto sustantivoCF · anulada por un vicio de fondoCF
vacated for rehabilitative purposes
Still a conviction for immigration purposes.
anulada con fines de rehabilitaciónCF
victim of a crime
víctima de un delitoUSCIS · víctima de un crimenUSCIS
violation of a protection order
violación de una orden de protecciónCF
withhold of adjudication
Florida; a conviction for immigration purposes when a penalty is imposed.
retención del falloCF · suspensión del fallo de culpabilidadCF
wobbler
California offense chargeable either way.
delito mixtoCF · delito que puede ser grave o menorCF
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