Because if you are not a US citizen, any criminal defense attorney will not do
A criminal charge is never just a criminal charge when you don’t hold a US passport—it’s a crossroads that can mean deportation, visa cancellation, detention by ICE, or the permanent loss of your chance to become a citizen. That’s why our entire practice is built around non-citizen defendants. Every motion we file, every plea we negotiate, and every trial strategy we craft is weighed not only against jail time and fines, but against the hidden landmines of immigration law: “aggravated felonies,” “crimes involving moral turpitude,” mandatory detention triggers, and the domino-effect these labels have on your future status. By focusing exclusively on people who still carry a passport from somewhere else, we speak your language—literally and legally—and we know how to navigate the overlap between criminal courts, ICE, and USCIS. The result is a defense plan that protects more than your freedom today; it safeguards your right to stay, work, reunite with family, and ultimately write the next chapter of your life here.
Protect Your Status—Call Us 24/7
850-361-2142When your immigration future hangs in the balance, we fight for more than a “good deal.”
Navigating a criminal charge is hard enough—doing it while every plea, sentence, or dismissal can trigger ICE detention or deportation is something else entirely. We devote our practice to non-citizens because the stakes are different for you. We know the immigration labels—crimes involving moral turpitude, aggravated felonies, deportability triggers—and we structure every motion, negotiation, and trial strategy around avoiding them. With a decade of courtroom wins and fluent Spanish-language service, lead attorney Josef Mitkevicius builds defenses that safeguard both your freedom and your ability to keep living and working in the United States.
Secure Your Freedom & Future ›Josef Mitkevicius law firm is absolutely amazing! We had a difficult case and won! Mr.Josef stood behind us 100%! The communication was awesome, he returns calls, responds to emails and truly stands behind his clients with integrity, hard work and reasonable rates. We put our trust in Josef Mitkevicius and it was the best decision we made when it came to choosing a law firm, he is the best!
Adrianne
Josef Mitkevicius law firm is absolutely amazing! We had a difficult case and won! Mr.Josef stood behind us 100%! The communication was awesome, he returns calls, responds to emails and truly stands behind his clients with integrity, hard work and reasonable rates. We put our trust in Josef Mitkevicius and it was the best decision we made when it came to choosing a law firm, he is the best!
Adrianne
Facing charges as a visa‑holder, green‑card holder, or undocumented resident can jeopardize your entire future in the United States. We focus exclusively on protecting non‑citizens statewide—crafting defense strategies that safeguard both your freedom and your immigration status.
About Mitkevicius Law
✦ Immigration-Savvy Communication
We keep you informed not just about court dates, but about how every move could affect visas, green-card renewal, or naturalization. Expect clear, plain-language updates (English & Spanish) at every step—so you can make decisions with full knowledge of the immigration stakes.
✦ Deportation-Proof Strategies
Because even a “good” plea can trigger removal, we prepare every case as if it were going to trial. That leverage lets us demand offers that preserve your right to stay—and fight in front of a jury when prosecutors won’t budge.
✦ Bilingual, Culturally-Rooted Advocacy
Our team, including founding attorney Josef Mitkevicius, speaks Spanish and meets clients where they are—listening to your story, respecting your culture, and crafting a defense plan that protects your family’s future as well as your freedom.
✦ Trusted by Florida’s Immigrant Community
Over 70 five-star reviews—and counting—from non-citizen clients who faced the same fears you have now. Their victories fuel our mission to make top-tier criminal defense accessible to every immigrant accused of a crime.
Because They Can Shatter Your Immigration Future
A single misdemeanor can derail a work permit, green-card application, or decades of life in the United States. Our practice zeroes in on the criminal cases most likely to spark ICE holds, “crimes involving moral turpitude” labels, and deportation proceedings.
Since the 2025 Laken Riley Act now forces ICE to detain any non-citizen even charged with theft, a Florida “slap-on-the-wrist” offer of court costs or time-served can spiral into no-bond immigration detention and a CIMT bar to future status. We act fast to secure dismissals, diversion, or amended pleas—and we can waive your court appearance so an ICE hold doesn’t turn into a failure-to-appear warrant.
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Posting bond but missing court dates while detained by ICE leads to a failure-to-appear warrant—stacking criminal and immigration problems.
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Any drug conviction—even withheld adjudication—can make you deportable and permanently inadmissible.
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A DV conviction can trigger removal, bar cancellation of removal, and block VAWA/self-petition options.
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We guide you—and your family—through every criminal-court step and its hidden immigration traps, so you can make clear, confident decisions.
01
Arrest & ICE Screening
Local police fingerprint you; the data pings DHS. Under the Laken Riley Act, even a petit theft arrest can trigger an ICE detainer before you post bond. Call us fast so we can track any hold and begin damage control.
02
First Appearance / Bond Hearing
A judge sets bond or ROR within 24 h. If ICE has lodged a detainer, paying bond may simply move you from county jail to immigration custody. We advise families whether posting bond helps—or hurts—the bigger picture.
03
Arraignment—or Waiver of Appearance
Formal charges are read. When clients are in ICE custody, we file a written plea of not guilty and waive your presence to stop a failure-to-appear warrant from stacking onto your record.
04
Discovery + Immigration-Risk Audit
We obtain police reports, videos, and lab results and run every fact against immigration codes: CIMT, aggravated felony, firearm and drug bars. This audit drives our defense options—dismissal, diversion, or an immigration-safe plea.
05
Negotiation & Strategic Motions
Prosecutors often offer “slap-on-the-wrist” deals for petit theft or simple possession. We accept only if the plea keeps you admissible and non-deportable—or we push for dismissal, diversion, or trial.
06
Trial / Final Disposition
If the State won’t protect your status, we go to trial. Win or lose, we coordinate with your immigration lawyer to file certified dispositions and keep you eligible for bond, relief, or future benefits.
Call the Mitkevicius Team Today
Criminal courts may call it a “minor” charge, but for a non-citizen even a misdemeanor can trigger ICE holds, deportation proceedings, and a lifetime bar to status. Our bilingual defense team is built to stop that chain reaction. We audit every plea for immigration land-mines, file court-appearance waivers when clients are in ICE custody, and go to trial when prosecutors won’t protect your future. With more than a decade fighting Florida charges—and 100-plus five-star reviews from immigrant families—you can rely on us to be honest about every option and fearless in any courtroom.
Ready to safeguard your status?
850-361-2142