Removal, often referred to as deportation, can be a devastating process to immigrants and their families.
There are three types of removal orders that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issues: departure orders, exclusion orders, and deportation orders. And the stakes are high.
If removed, you’ll have to leave your life, your family, and everything you’ve built in the U.S.
But can you fight your removal in Louisiana?
If you or a loved one lives in Louisiana and is facing removal from the US, our Alexandria immigration attorneys at Jones Law Partners are here to help.
What happens one you receive a removal order?
In Louisiana, once you receive a removal notice, you will also receive a notice to appear (NTA) from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This means that ICE believes you are here in the United States without authorization.
A deportation hearing, otherwise known as a Master Calendar Hearing (MCH), will be scheduled. It could happen a few months after receiving your NTA, or up to a year afterward.
Please know that you must appear once you receive the hearing date. If you fail to appear at your MCH, you will not be permitted to appeal your removal from the U.S and could face additional penalties.
After your MCH, an individual hearing will be scheduled. To successfully navigate this lengthy hearing, hiring an experienced Louisiana immigration attorney is your best bet. With changing immigration laws and a difficult immigration process, it can be very difficult to manage this hearing on your own.
Depending on the specifics of your situation, as well as the volume of cases brought before immigration courts, the entire removal proceedings can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
What is a waiver of deportability? Is it an option in Louisiana?
A waiver of deportability is given when the U.S. cancels the removal proceedings.
This option is only available if someone meets specific qualifications (which require extensive evidence).
Once a waiver of deportability is submitted, a judge will then determine whether you are eligible to:
(a.) have certain charges of immigration violations waived; or
(b). can have the deportation removed, with an option of permanent residence.
Please note that eligibility differs for green card holders and non-green card holders.
Our Jones Law Partners have the experience needed to help you navigate the U.S. immigration system and fight your removal proceedings. Depending on your situation, some of the most common ways to achieve this are by:
- Applying to adjust your current immigration status;
- Completing a Cancellation of Removal and 212(C) Waivers, or a Cancellation of Removal for Non-Permanent Residents;
- Submitting a request for political asylum
- Applying for a U-Visa (reserved for victims of crime that help law enforcement); and
- Voluntary Departure.
What if an immigration judge has already decided that you or your loved one should be deported?
Unless you have waived your right to an appeal or are trying to file your appeal after more than 30 days, a judge’s decision in removal proceedings is not final.
You will, however, need an experienced immigration attorney by your side to help ensure your case goes the way you want it to.
That’s where the Jones Law Partners come in.
Are you or a loved one facing removal? Contact the Jones Law Partners today
If you or a loved one faces an uncertain future in the U.S., the Jones Law Partners can fight against your removal. We will work tirelessly to put together a strong case, providing you with the best defense and course of action possible. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
