Are you or someone you know in removal or deportation proceedings?
Do you want to stay in the United States and fight against removal?
Did you know that over 97% of people who are not represented by a good attorney in removal proceedings get deported, while the vast majority of people who have good legal representation in removal proceedings get to stay here?
5 Things You Need to Know About Your Deportation Proceedings
If the government has initiated removal proceedings, also known as deportation proceedings, against you, you stand to lose everything that you have built in the United States, including your home, your business, and your ability to be with your family.
Here are some things you should be aware of:
- You could be detained for long periods of time and without bond by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- You have the right to an attorney, but unlike criminal court, there are no court-appointed attorneys. That means if you want or need an attorney, you will have to choose and pay for one yourself.
- If you do not attend your immigration court hearing, you could be ordered deported in your absence. In other words, you do not have to be present in the hearing for the judge to issue a deportation order against you.
- Even if you are in the country without legal status, this does not necessarily mean you must be deported. There are various forms of relief from deportation that may be available to you.
- Not all attorneys who practice immigration law are competent to represent clients in immigration court. You should look for an attorney who has experience in deportation defense and who has a proven, successful record in immigration court.
How Our TEAM Can Help You
If you are facing deportation, you’ll need a removal defense lawyer who understands the complexities of immigration law and has specific expertise in representing clients before the immigration courts.
Once you hire our firm, your attorney will represent you at every court hearing and speak on your behalf. We will work with you to prepare the best defense for your case.
The key to success in immigration court is having a lawyer who is experienced in removal proceedings and all types of relief for removal. Removal proceedings are very intensive and procedural, and every little detail matters. You should hire an attorney who knows the proper procedures and the expectations of the immigration judges, and has a lot of experience successfully representing clients in these special proceedings.
Melissa Anderson, Esquire has successfully represented clients in immigration courts in Memphis and throughout the United States for more than five years. I know what to expect when appearing before an immigration judge and what types of relief you may be eligible for. If there is a way for you to avoid deportation, I will find it and do my best to fight to keep you here.
When you consult with me and my team, we will analyze your immigration history and discuss with you your chances for avoiding deportation. If you are detained, I will explain the likelihood of getting you released on bond, which will help you decide on how to proceed on your case.
In the event that your case is not successful before the immigration judge, I have experience at filing appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, and if necessary, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. I have been successful in getting removal orders overturned in several cases.
If you previously have received a deportation/removal order, I may be able to help you reopen the order so that you can apply for relief from removal. Call us today to talk about what we can do to help you with your deportation/removal case so that you can stay in the United States.
My Services
I can assist you with the following:
- Bond proceedings: Releasing detained clients by getting immigration bonds.
- Representation at master calendar hearings:
- Representation at merits or individual hearings: Going with our clients to immigration court and appearing before the judges in individual merits hearings.
- Adjustment of Status in removal proceedings: Applying for a green card before the immigration judge.
- Cancellation of Removal for Permanent Residents: Helping Lawful Permanent Residents who were convicted of certain crimes that make them deportable keep their green cards and be allowed to stay.
- Cancellation of Removal for Non-Permanent Residents: For people without legal status who have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years and have U.S. or permanent resident family members
- 212(c): For people who pleaded guilty to crimes prior to 1997 when the criminal immigration law was changed.
- NACARA: For people who qualify for relief from deportation under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act for Nicaraguans, Cubans, Salvadorans and Guatemalans.
- TPS – Temporary Protected Status: Applying for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) before the immigration court to prevent deportation.
- Political Asylum: For people who were persecuted or have a fear of being persecuted because of their political opinion, social group or other protected grounds.
- Deferred Action: For people with deportation orders to request a stay of deportation.
- Prosecutorial Discretion: For people who have strong grounds for convincing the government to close their deportation cases.
- Stay of Deportation: For people who can prove hardship or qualify for stays for example when filing appeals.
- Immigration appeals to the BIA: Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which reviews the immigration judge.
- Petitions for Review: Immigration appeals to all U.S. circuit courts that review the BIA orders.
- Motions to Reopen: Deportation proceedings in order to receive relief from removal such as adjustment of status to permanent residence.
Contact the Law Office of Melissa Anderson
Call our Nashville office 615-750-5886 or 615-925-2041 or send us an email to schedule a consultation with our team.
Melissa Anderson Immigration 