Finding A Quality Deportation Attorney
What You Need to Know About Texas Adoptions
October 15, 2019Immigration law is constantly changing and difficult to understand. The sections addressing deportations are even more complex. The results of your hearing can negatively impact your ability to remain in the country or to re-enter the country in the future. This is why it’s important to know how to find a quality deportation attorney to represent your case.
Can You Fight a Deportation Order?
Yes. Being served a Notice to Appear can be a scary experience. Your letter may even contain language like “you have 30 days to leave the country or face deportation”, making your situation appear hopeless. Language like this conveniently leaves out that you have a right to a hearing. It doesn’t inform you that you’re provided an opportunity to present a defense against the charge that you are ‘removable’. The strength of that case depends on a variety of factors, which a quality Deportation Lawyer will help you identify and develop into the strongest possible defense strategy for your case.
Know Your Rights
When seeking legal counsel, it is important to know your rights, especially when facing deportation proceedings:
- You have a right to a deportation attorney – While you have a right to legal representation, the court is not required to provide you with an attorney. It’s important that you consider hiring an attorney to represent you, but know that it is at your own expense.
- You have a right to an interpreter – You have the right to hear and respond to the charges against you in your native language, even if you are fluent in English. This ensures that you and your witnesses fully understand and are understood by all court officials, including your attorney.
- You have a right to know the charges against you – You cannot be deported without being informed of the charges against you. Your “Notice to Appear” must list these charges.
- You have a right to a hearing – You cannot be deported without being given the opportunity to present a defense for the charges against you. The date and location of your hearing must be included in your ‘Notice to Appear.’ Should you fail to appear at your hearing, you will be issued an Order of Removal in absentia. It is possible to appeal this decision but it’s a challenging argument to make and such appeals are often denied.
- You have a right to an appeal – If you feel the judge has not arrived at the correct decision, you have the right to appeal your case. You will not, however, be able to present new evidence or a new defense. An appeal will simply be a review of your case. The review determines if the judge arrived at the correct decision given the facts presented at your hearing.
How Can a Deportation Attorney Help?
With as complicated as Immigration law is, the knowledge and experience of a quality deportation attorney are invaluable. Your attorney will be intimately familiar with your options. They’ll also be able to recommend defense strategies that may not have thought were even an option.
A quality Deportation Attorney’s first step when preparing your defense should be to conduct a thorough interview with you. In this interview, your attorney will try to establish if any of the Charges of Removability against you are false.
These might include the argument that you are, in fact, a U.S. citizen because a parent or grandparent was a citizen or that the criminal charges against you do not satisfy the Grounds for Removal. Perhaps you did not realize that you do qualify for a green card. Or maybe the hardships you experienced in your country of origin qualify you to apply for asylum. Your attorney might even be able to make the argument that, though you do not have a right to a green card, you should be permitted to remain in the country on the basis that your strong family and community ties and good moral conduct demonstrate that you are not a threat to the American.
There are a variety of other arguments a skilled attorney might be able to make on your behalf. However, if no other strong argument exists, it should be your attorney’s goal to secure a ‘voluntary removal’. This will minimize any negative impacts on your ability to return to the US at a future date. A voluntary removal allows you to avoid the social and legal stigma of deportation while granting you more time to settle your affairs before leaving the country.
Other Options Deportation Attorneys can Help With
A quality Deportation Attorney will also help you fill out and submit any forms and applications that are necessary to your defense, such as applications for a green card or asylum. Your attorney should also assist in gathering and cataloging any evidence needed to back up your claims. They will also prepare you and your witnesses to give testimony at your hearing. A quality attorney understands that even if the judge denies your case, the careful documentation of the facts and evidence greatly increases your chances of a more favorable ruling when you appeal.
Do I Need to Hire a Deportation Attorney?
While the law does not require you to hire an attorney, doing so is in your best interest. An attorney specializing in this area of law is intimately aware of how these laws apply to your unique situation. They will interview you thoroughly to ensure that they are able to consider all options for defense. Hiring an experienced Deportation Lawyer will help ensure that your rights are upheld as you develop the best possible defense strategy for your case.
How Much Will a Deportation Lawyer Cost?
The numbers may surprise you. After adding up all of the court, lawyer, and filing fees, a deportation case costs anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. But do not let this discourage you. Remember, this is your one chance to argue your case and having an experienced Deportation Attorney at your side can make all the difference.
At the Law Office of Bell & White, we understand how important it is to feel confident in who you hire to represent your case. Each lawyer you speak to may charge as much as $150 to discuss your situation. They may bill you for this fee even if they choose not to represent you. At Bell & White we recognize that this can be an expensive process and offer free consultations to make finding the right lawyer more affordable for our clients. Our experienced attorneys want to help you.