If you or a loved one has received notice of deportation proceedings, you are probably feeling panicked. You don’t have to face this process alone. You have the right to hire your own attorney to defend you from all removal actions. The best deportation lawyers in Chicago are at Minsky, McCormick and Hallagan. The sooner you hire an attorney, the better options you will have for dealing with deportation proceedings.
In order to begin the deportation process, the government must initiate “removal proceedings” with the immigration court. This starts with a Notice to Appear. The immigrant is served with the notice, along with the charging document that states the government’s allegations. This document will list the reasons that the government believes the immigrant is no longer eligible for lawful immigration status. For example: if a person who entered the country on a fiance visa failed to marry his or her sponsor in the required ninety days or a person on a student visa stopped attending school, these would be grounds for removal.
The Notice to Appear will specify the date and time of your hearing before an immigration judge. This is your opportunity to defend yourself and stop deportation, so it is important to have an experienced immigration attorney representing you at this hearing. It is also important to understand that the government will not provide an attorney for you. If you want legal advice, you must find and hire a lawyer on your own.
You have the right to present any applicable defense at the removal hearing. In the fiancee example, the immigrant could present evidence that he or she has since married the sponsor. The student could present evidence that he or she has enrolled in school and is actively attending classes once more. The defenses available to you will depend on your specific situation, so again, it is important to consult with an immigration lawyer about your particular case.
You might also be eligible for protection or relief from removal on humanitarian grounds. If, for example, you can prove that you qualify for asylum as a refugee, this might stop a removal order. Victims of human trafficking, sexual violence, and other drastic circumstances may also be able to qualify for lawful immigration status on humanitarian grounds.
Even after a removal order has been issued, you may be able to appeal the decision in federal court if there are grounds to do so. Appeals are costly to launch and difficult to prove, but they are available.
At Minsky, McCormick and Hallagan, we hire the best deportation lawyers in Chicago. We have helped many clients deal with removal proceedings, and we can help develop the best strategy for you and your family. Contact us to schedule a consultation as soon as possible. The sooner you have an attorney fighting on your side, the better options you will have for stopping deportation and protecting your lawful immigration status.