Deportation and Immigration Removal

Criminal Record

You should always have a certified copy of your criminal history and have the phone number of an immigration attorney. Your attorney can let you know in advance that whether based on your criminal record, you can be bond eligible or not.

Lowering the bond

The immigration judge has the discretion to lower your bond. If the amount is too high, make sure you ask for a lower amount at the bond hearing.

At bond hearings

Typically, the immigration judge considers whether you present a danger, a national security threat, risk of flight, or the risk of disappearing and not showing up to any hearings. You should submit any and all documents that would demonstrate your permanent address, stable employment, relatives with legal status in the United States, and any evidence of strong ties to the community. Further, you need to ask your family and friends to attend your bond hearing and provide strong, solid, and positive testimony on your behalf, or at least, have them send letters of support.

Freedom of Information Act

You should always have a copy of your immigration file. Under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”), you can request a copy of your file. This is important because you get a chance to see your file and all unfavorable evidence that the government has against you.

Immigration attorney/lawyer

You do not have the right to a free attorney, but you have the right to hire your own lawyer, at no cost to the United States government. Also, you have the right to represent yourself.

Call the immigration attorneys at M&A Law Firm, we will stand by you. We are the LAWYERS ON YOUR SIDE.

Deportation Hearings

Make sure you understand what is going on with your case. If you do not get a hearing, find out the reason. Depending upon your case, you might not have a deportation hearing.

Persecution in your home country

If you are afraid to return to your home country, then you must notify your deportation officer and the court as soon as possible. This will allow you to an interview with an asylum officer, or allows you to raise persecution and fear of returning to your country during your court hearing. Contact your immigration attorney for help on this.

Types of Hearing

A Master Calendar Hearing is a hearing before the immigration judge, and during this hearing you can ask for a continuation in order for you to obtain a lawyer. However, depending on the case, an immigration judge could completely dispose of your case at this hearing and have you deported.

Individual Hearings are set for you to present your case to the immigration judge in order for the judge to determine whether you have relief or status options available to you. You should ring any relevant documents and witnesses to testify at the hearing. Please note that you may not receive an individual hearing if the judge renders that you are not eligible for any sort of relief. Therefore, it is very important for you to obtain an immigration lawyer and discuss your case with him or her in advance.

Complaints

There have been many reports of abuse at the detention facilities. Make sure to obtain, the date, names of the immigration or jail officers, and in detail as what happened. File a written complaint with the jail and send copies to your local ICE office, the person in charge of the jail, a human rights or civil rights organization, and Department of Homeland Security (Secretary Janet Napolitano, Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528). Moreover, make sure all the people are listed on the same complaint, and make sure that you send copies to your family, friends, and lawyer.

List of Immigration Detention Centers in US