Deportation Defense
Facing removal is one of the most frightening experiences a person can go through. We fight with everything the law allows — and we know immigration court inside and out.
What Happens When You Receive a Notice to Appear
A Notice to Appear (NTA) is the charging document that initiates removal proceedings. It lists the government's allegations and the legal grounds for removal. Receiving an NTA does not mean you will be deported — it means you must appear before an immigration judge and respond to the charges. Do not ignore it. Failure to appear results in an automatic in absentia removal order.
Bond Hearings for Detained Individuals
If you or a family member has been detained by ICE, you have the right to a bond hearing before an immigration judge. At the bond hearing, we argue that you are not a flight risk or a danger to the community and request release at a reasonable bond amount. Bond hearings can happen quickly — and having an attorney present dramatically increases the chance of release at a reasonable amount.
Cancellation of Removal
Cancellation of removal is a form of relief that allows certain long-term residents to avoid deportation and obtain a green card. Non-LPRs must show 10 years of continuous presence, good moral character, and exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child. LPRs must show 7 years of continuous residence and 5 years as a permanent resident. These are demanding standards — but we have won cancellation for clients who were initially told they had no hope.
Appeals
If an immigration judge orders removal, you have 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). If the BIA affirms, you can petition the federal circuit court of appeals. Appeals take time — but they also provide an important stay of removal while the appeal is pending. We pursue appeals aggressively when there is a colorable legal argument.
Contact an immigration attorney immediately. Do not ignore the notice. Bring the document to your attorney along with all of your immigration paperwork. The first hearing is usually a short Master Calendar hearing where you confirm your identity and the process begins — but preparation starts well before that.
Yes, under certain circumstances. You can file a Motion to Reopen if there is new evidence or changed country conditions. You can file a Motion to Reconsider if the judge made a legal error. In absentia orders (issued when someone didn't appear) can sometimes be reopened if you can show you didn't receive proper notice or had exceptional circumstances. None of these are easy — but they are real options.
Call us immediately. Find out which detention facility they are in (check ICE's online detainee locator). Do not make any statements to ICE without an attorney present. We can file for a bond hearing quickly and work to secure their release while the case proceeds.
Not necessarily. The immigration consequences of criminal convictions are complex and depend heavily on the specific offense, the sentence imposed, and your immigration history. Some convictions trigger mandatory deportation with no discretionary relief. Others do not. Do not assume the worst — and do not assume you are safe without getting a professional analysis.
