DuPage County Deportation Hearing Attorneys

Skilled Representation for Immigrants Facing Deportation Hearings in Illinois

When a non-U.S. Citizen is found inadmissible or commits a deportable offense, they are placed in deportation/removal proceedings. Proceedings are often initiated after an individual has a run-in with local law enforcement, is caught up in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid or is arrested by ICE at home. During ICE detention, the government decides whether or not to initiate the deportation process, which typically involves hearings to determine if the individual should be removed. If you or a family member is facing a deportation hearing, it is important to speak with an experienced immigration attorney as soon as possible.

At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, we extensive experience with deportation hearings and all other types of immigration issues in Chicago and throughout Northern Illinois. Our award-winning attorneys regularly represent clients before ICE and USCIS, and we have a strong track record of success dealing with these agencies. We are also skilled across a wide range of other practice areas, including criminal, family law, and many others. Our criminal practice includes former prosecutors and former public defenders with an in-depth knowledge of the inner workings of the state and federal judicial system. Our unique blend of experience with criminal issues and immigration gives our clients a strong voice and the skilled representation they deserve.

Notice to Appear for Deportation Hearings

Deportation/removal proceedings are initiated with a Notice to Appear (NTA) before an immigration judge. The NTA includes your name, the country you were born in, and the following additional information:

• The reason you are being ordered to appear;
• The alleged grounds for deportation;
• Your right to hire an attorney (at your own expense); and
• What will happen if you fail to appear.

The initial deportation hearing is known as the Master Calendar Hearing. It is very important to attend this hearing, even if you do not have a defense for removal or are unsure of your options. If you fail to attend, an automatic removal order is issued against you, and you are not able to return to the U.S. on any type of visa for at least ten years. Though you are not required to bring an attorney to the Master Calendar Hearing, it is in your best interests to have one present.

At your hearing, you (and your attorney if you have one) present your deportation defense to the judge and schedule your Individual Hearing. If you have no defense, it may be possible to negotiate a voluntary removal (VR), in which you agree to depart the U.S. on your own and keep your record free of a removal order. The Individual Hearing is your opportunity to present, in-depth, your legal basis for remaining in the United States. At this hearing, you are able to present evidence, call witnesses, testify on your own behalf, and answer questions from the government attorney. Possible deportation defenses may include demonstrating that the charges are against you are not as serious as alleged, showing close family ties to a U.S. Citizen, claiming asylum or claiming that you qualify for cancellation by being in a specialized category such as DACA, NACARA, Life Act or VAWA.

Deportation hearings can be scary and intimidating for immigrants. With so much future uncertainty and your legal status in doubt, it is essential to have attorneys in your corner with extensive knowledge of both immigration and criminal defense, and how the two areas of law intertwine. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, we put our experience to work to thoroughly review your case and explore every legal avenue to preserving your status in the U.S. For a free consultation with one of our skilled Illinois immigration lawyers, contact us today at 630-932-9100630-932-9100.