Towson Deportation Lawyers

If you have been notified of removal proceedings against you, there is little time to waste. While there are defenses you can raise against deportation, you need an attorney who is knowledgeable in immigration law to build a strong case. For legal help in removal proceedings, reach out to a Towson, Maryland deportation defense attorney today.

Deportation cases involve high stakes, so you should entrust your case to a law firm with proven experience. At Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC, we have represented numerous clients in immigration cases, and we have earned dozens of 5-star reviews across the web. When you work with our firm, we can go over your options to fight the removal in detail.

Crimes That Can Result in Removal From the United States

A criminal conviction can lead to removal from the United States even for immigrants who have lived here legally for many years. Federal immigration law treats certain offenses as grounds for deportation, and some of these crimes would be considered minor under state law. Aggravated felonies carry the most serious consequences. This category includes murder, rape, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and some theft or violent offenses with a sentence of one year or more.

Crimes involving moral turpitude, which generally involve fraud, theft, or intent to cause harm, can also lead to removal. Other deportable offenses include most drug convictions, firearm offenses, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and violating a protective order. A plea deal that seems favorable in criminal court can still create problems in immigration court, so noncitizens should understand the immigration effects of a plea before accepting it.

What Is Unlawful Presence?

Unlawful presence is the time a person spends in the United States after an authorized stay expires or after entering without being admitted. A person who overstays a visa or ignores the date on an I-94 record may begin to accrue unlawful presence. This time does more than create a risk of removal. It can also block a person from returning to the country later.

Someone who accrues more than 180 days but less than one year of unlawful presence and then leaves faces a three-year bar on returning. More than one year of unlawful presence leads to a 10-year bar. Certain people do not accrue unlawful presence, such as minors under 18 and many people with pending asylum applications. A waiver may be available for some applicants, but the rules are strict.

Immigration Fraud Can Lead to Deportation

Immigration fraud covers any attempt to gain an immigration benefit through lies, false documents, or hidden facts. Common examples include entering a sham marriage to obtain a Green Card, using fake identity or employment records, and leaving arrests or past removals off immigration forms. A finding of fraud can lead to removal and can make a person permanently inadmissible.

Falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen is treated especially harshly. A person who checks the wrong box on an employment form or registers to vote while not a citizen can face serious consequences, even years later. Some fraud findings come from honest mistakes or poor advice from someone who was not a qualified attorney. In those cases, we work to show the facts behind the error.

What to Expect at a Deportation Hearing

A deportation case formally starts when the Department of Homeland Security files a Notice to Appear with the immigration court. The first court date is usually a master calendar hearing. At this brief hearing, the immigration judge reviews the charges, the non-citizen admits or denies the allegations, and the attorney tells the court what forms of relief the person plans to seek.

The case then moves to an individual hearing, where the judge hears the full case. The non-citizen may testify, present documents, and call witnesses. A government attorney from Immigration and Customs Enforcement can cross-examine witnesses and argue for removal. The judge may rule at the end of the hearing or issue a written decision later. Either side can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, generally within 30 days of the decision.

Frequently Asked Questions About Deportation in Towson, MD

Meet With Our Towson, Maryland Deportation Defense Attorneys

A removal case can separate a person from their family, job, and home. At Immigration Legal Advisors, PLLC, we defend immigrants in Towson against deportation and work to find every form of relief available in each case. Contact our Towson, MD deportation defense lawyers or call 571-441-2233 to schedule a consultation.