Murray Hill is a residential and commercial neighborhood on Manhattan s East Side with a substantial international population and a concentration of consulates and missions.

What This Charge Means Here

A neighborhood with a large non-citizen population produces cases in which the immigration consequence is frequently more serious than the criminal one, and it is decided by federal law rather than by New York s grading. The area covers ZIP 10016.

Immigration Consequences Do Not Follow New York s Labels

Federal immigration law analyzes a conviction by its elements and by the record of conviction, not by the label New York attaches. A misdemeanor can carry mandatory consequences that a felony does not. A plea structured one way can be survivable and the same sentence structured differently can be catastrophic. For a lawful permanent resident, a visa holder or a person with pending status, the plea analysis has to be conducted under federal law before any offer is accepted — and it has to be done by someone who does that analysis rather than assumes it.

Which Court Hears It and What to Expect

A matter arising in Murray Hill is prosecuted by the New York County District Attorney. Misdemeanor matters are handled in New York County Criminal Court at 100 Centre Street. Felony matters proceed to New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, at 60 Centre Street. Where the same conduct draws federal interest, the case would be heard in the Southern District of New York at 500 Pearl Street.

New York County processes a very high volume, and arraignment parts run long. A matter arrested in the evening is frequently arraigned the following day. The county s charging practice on Article 130 matters is comparatively structured, and the assigned bureau is identifiable early.

The First 72 Hours

The first three days determine what evidence still exists. Surveillance recordings in residential buildings, businesses and transit systems are overwritten on cycles frequently measured in weeks and sometimes in days. Messaging and location data held by carriers and platforms is subject to retention schedules that no one waits on. A written preservation demand sent early costs nothing and is often the difference between having a record and having someone s description of it.

The other thing the first three days decide is whether a statement exists. Investigators approach people before an arrest, and a conversation described as informal is not. Declining to discuss an allegation is not evidence of anything, and it is the one decision in this period that cannot be undone later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a misdemeanor safer for immigration purposes?

Not necessarily. Federal law analyzes the elements and the record of conviction rather than the New York grade, and some misdemeanors carry consequences that some felonies do not.

When should immigration be considered?

Before any offer is accepted. How a plea is structured frequently determines the immigration outcome, and that cannot be corrected afterward.

Where is a Murray Hill case heard?

New York County Criminal Court at 100 Centre Street, with felony matters at Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street.

About Mr. Sris

Mr. Sris is the founding attorney of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., a firm practicing since 1997. He is a former prosecutor and is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey and New York. Of Counsel attorneys contract directly with the firm and handle matters alongside him.

Speak With Mr. Sris

An allegation of this kind does not wait for you to decide what to do about it. Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Consultations are by appointment.

Last reviewed: August 24, 2026.

Attorney Advertising. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading it or by contacting the firm. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Attorney responsible for this advertising: Mr. Sris.