Mauricio Ramirez Fernandez v. State of Iowa

TABOR, Judge.

Deportation consequences and the duty of criminal defense attorneys again intersect in this case. Mauricio Ramirez Fernandez 1 appeals the denial of postconviction relief (PCR), contending his attorney was ineffective for failing to warn him about the immigration and criminal fallout from "turning himself in" to the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) for using a false Social Security number to register a vehicle. By doing so, Ramirez obtained a conviction for fourth-degree fraudulent practice. He also faults his attorney for continuing to represent him while listed as a…