Deportation/Removal Proceedings

Located in Watertown, Massachusetts and just outside the city of Boston, our experienced removal and deportation defense lawyers are prepared to help immigrants who find themselves before an immigration judge.  Whether you were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have been referred by U.S.C.I.S., or charged  by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), removal proceedings are a very serious matter which can result in removal or deportation from the United States.  Having an experienced attorney by your side can be vital to protecting and preserving your rights.

Possible defenses to charges of removal/deportation are:

  • Termination of Proceedings
  • Asylum
  • Withholding of Removal
  • Adjustment of Status
  • Cancellation of Removal
  • Waiver of Inadmissibility
  • Voluntary Departure

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What are removal proceedings?  Is it the same as being deported?
Yes, since 1996 all proceedings before an immigration judge are called removal proceedings wherein the government is trying to have an alien removed from the United States to another country.  Prior to 1996 there used to be two different hearings, deportation and exclusion.  While the term deportation is used in common vernacular, the official terminology is removal.

What is a Notice to Appear or Form I-862?
A Notice to Appear or NTA, printed on Form I-862 is where the government is charging an alien as removable or deportable from the United States.

If someone has been detained by ICE, is there a way to get them out of jail?
Some people in immigration detention are eligible to be released on bond while others are subject to mandatory detention. Aliens who have been previously been ordered removed or deported and those convicted of certain crimes are subject to mandatory detention and are not eligible to be released on bond.  Further, being eligible for release on bond does not guaranty your release.  You must appear before an immigration judge in a Bond Hearing and convince the Judge that you are: (1) not a danger to the community; (2) not a threat to national security; and (3) not a flight risk.

Can I be deported or ordered removed for any crime?
No, only a conviction for certain crimes are grounds of deportability or removability.  If you have been charged with a crime, it is recommended that you meet with an immigration attorney immediately to discuss the possible impact of a conviction.

If I fear returning to my home country, can I still be deported or ordered removed?
Depending on the circumstances of your particular case you may be eligible for asylum, withholding or removal or eligible for relief under the Convention against Torture (CAT).