It’s many people’s worst nightmare. You – or your loved one – receive a notice to appear in removal proceedings and are threatened with deportation. As I always remind people, the word was changed more than 20 years ago to “removal” by Congress. Then, President Bill Clinton signed the law. But make no mistake. It is still deportation. Many people panic as soon as they receive their notice, and contemplate going into hiding, or finding a way “get around” deportation. Don’t do either of these things. If you are facing deportation keep calm, and follow the recommendations below.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN FACING DEPORTATION?
- Do not lose your head. You must stay calm and start to plan a strategy.
- Don’t do it alone. If you are already in the place of facing deportation it’s time to get legal help. Call the best immigration lawyer you can.
- The system is the toughest in history. Estimates place deportations at nearly 3 Million under Obama, and Trump has made staying in the country even harder for many people. There are about 600,000 immigrants currently awaiting deportation hearings.
WE CAN STOP REMOVAL / DEPORTATION IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.
There are many immigrants facing deportation who are eligible for waivers, asylum, and other defenses.
Almost ten per cent of those facing deportation are in jail. This number is connected to a Congressionally mandated quota that says a certain number be detained.
Defending immigrants facing deportation, who are in custody, is a special area of immigration law.
Don’t become a statistic.
In 2012, more than 400,000 immigrants were detained and removed, from more than 250 detention centers in the United States. Former President Obama liked to say that we only remove “gangbangers.” President Trump prefers “bad hombres.”
However, between 2010 and 2012, the volume of immigrants deported after a serious felony or violent crime decreased from 9.5 to 8.7 percent, according to data provided by Immigration.
The reality is we see people from more than 100 countries facing deportation. These folks include young children and their parents.
If you are facing deportation, get help from a professional now.