Woman not warned of immigration issues can withdraw guilty pleas Woman not warned of immigration ...

By of the Journal Sentinel A Wisconsin woman will be allowed to withdraw guilty plea in a drug case because judges failed to explain the possible immigration consequences of conviction, a divided Melisa Valadez, a native of Mexican, became a lawful permanent resident of U.S. in 2001, when she was 15, but is not a citizen. She has three children born in the U.S. In 2004 and 2005, she pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Contrary to the law, two Walworth County judges who took her pleas failed to mention the possible immigration consequences. Valadez did jail time and successfully completed probation for the offenses and has had no further convictions. But...