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A Massachusetts Criminal Charge Can End a Visa, Trigger Deportation, or Cancel a Work Authorization — Before Any Conviction

By Attorney Joseph Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense June 2026 In 2025 and 2026, the enforcement environment for non-citizens in Massachusetts has changed significantly. Federal immigration enforcement has intensified nationally, SEVIS terminations for international students have accelerated, and the State Department has exercised its visa revocation authority more…

What to Do in the First 24 Hours After an Arrest in Massachusetts

By Attorney Joseph Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense June 2026 An arrest in Massachusetts initiates a sequence of procedural events that moves faster than most people expect. Under Massachusetts law, a person who has been taken into custody must be brought before a judge “without unnecessary delay” —…

Your Fifth Amendment Right to Refuse to Provide Your iPhone Passcode in Massachusetts: What the Law Actually Says

By Attorney Joseph Serpa | Georgetown University Law Center | 30 Years Massachusetts Criminal Defense June 2026 When Massachusetts law enforcement seizes a digital device and demands the passcode, many defendants comply — out of panic, a desire to appear cooperative, or a mistaken belief that refusing will make them appear guilty. Under both the…