Irving Immigration Detention Attorneys

Dallas County Removal Defense Lawyer for Immigrants Detained by ICE or CBP

There are a variety of situations where an immigrant may become involved in deportation/removal proceedings. In these cases, agents working for government organizations such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) may take a person into custody and hold them while their case is pending. This is known as detention, and those who are being held in a detention facility will need to understand the steps they can take to defend against deportation while also determining whether they can be released and return to their homes and families while their cases are ongoing.

Since immigration laws can be complicated, immigrants who have been detained or who are involved in deportation proceedings will usually need legal help as they address these issues. At John W. Lawit, LLC, we have been working with immigrants and their families for more than 40 years, and we have helped thousands of people address a wide variety of complex matters related to deportation, visa applications, adjustment of status, and humanitarian relief. We can provide representation in hearings before immigration judges, and we will advocate for the rights of immigrants and help them determine their best options for defense against removal from the United States.

Detention in Cases Involving Deportability or Inadmissibility

Department of Homeland Security officials may detain immigrants who do not have U.S. citizenship in a variety of situations. In some cases, immigration officials may be notified when an immigrant is arrested or charged with a crime, and a person may be transferred into ICE detention. ICE agents may conduct raids of workplaces or homes where they believe undocumented immigrants are located. Immigrants may also be detained when entering the United States or during appointments or interviews with immigration officials. In some cases, a person may be provided with a Notice to Appear (NTA) in immigration court, and they may be detained during these deportation proceedings.

Detention may be based on grounds of deportability or inadmissibility. Deportability will apply in cases where a person was legally admitted to the United States, and it may involve criminal convictions for certain types of crimes. Applicable criminal offenses include aggravated felonies such as murder, assault, sexual assault, drug trafficking, fraud involving losses of more than $10,000, illegal sale or distribution of firearms, and theft charges resulting in a prison sentence of at least one year. Other deportable offenses include drug possession or distribution (with the exception of a single offense of possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana), domestic violence, violation of an order of protection, and certain types of offenses that are considered to be crimes involving moral turpitude. Non-criminal grounds of deportability include remaining in the United States after a nonimmigrant visa has expired or been revoked, falsification of immigration documents, marriage fraud, drug abuse or addiction, or becoming a public charge of the United States within five years after a person's date of entry.

Detention based on grounds of inadmissibility may occur in cases where an immigrant seeks entry to the United States or returns to the U.S. after traveling abroad. Issues related to inadmissibility may also cause a person in the U.S. to be detained when they apply to change their legal immigration status. Many of the same criminal convictions that would cause a person to be deportable will also make them inadmissible, although some exceptions may apply in cases involving crimes of moral turpitude that are considered petty offenses or were committed before a person reached the age of 18. Other grounds for inadmissibility include previous deportations or health issues such as communicable diseases. In some cases, immigrants may be able to apply for waivers of inadmissibility that will allow them to avoid deportation.

Contact Our Coppell Immigration Detention Attorneys

Our firm can help immigrants determine how to proceed after being detained by ICE or CBP. We can provide representation in immigration bond hearings, and we can help a person understand their options for defending against deportation. Contact us and learn how we can help with your case by calling 214-609-2242. We represent immigrants in removal proceedings and other types of cases in Bedford, Coppell, Grapevine, Euless, Irving, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Arlington, Addison, Grand Prairie, and Dallas County.