Understanding Expedited Removal

Often referred to as “summary” deportation, expedited removal allows the Department of Homeland Security to deport non-U.S. citizens who arrive in the country without valid documentation (e.g., a passport or visa) or attempt to gain entry via misrepresentation or fraud. Removal is immediate and without a formal hearing, which is one of the reasons why it can be such a frightening experience. Overview of Expedited Read More

What to Expect at a Removal Hearing

If you’ve received notice that you are facing a removal hearing, being prepared is vital to your case. While the idea of being deported can be terrifying - especially if the United States has been your home for many years and living in your native country puts you in eminent danger – it is important that you approach the removal hearing with an understanding that there are steps you can take to prevent deportation Read More

What is an NTA?

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security may issue and serve a Notice to Appear (NTA) on a non-citizen who is removable from or inadmissible to the United States.  An NTA is a charging document that signals the beginning of removal proceedings against the individual. If you receive an NTA, it means that you must appear in Immigration Court on a specific date, time, and location; or at a date and time to be determined Read More

Agricultural Workers and Immigration

Between one and three million migrant workers travel to the United States each year following crops that are ready for harvest, a contemporary version of the John Steinbeck novel The Grapes of Wrath, which told the story of the Joad family’s similar exhausting quest. Migrant farmworkers do not have a permanent place of residence, and instead travel where they can find work. These workers not only farm fields, Read More

How the Defense of Marriage Act Affects Your Immigration Case

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law that was signed into law in May of 1996 by President Bill Clinton, legally defined marriage as the union between one man and one woman. Almost two decades later, in June of 2015, DOMA was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, a definitive move that made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. For immigrants who had previously been prohibited from Read More

An Overview of Provisional Waivers

Foreign nationals ineligible to adjust their status in the U.S., must travel abroad and obtain an immigrant visa. Individuals who have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence in the U.S. must obtain a waiver of inadmissibility to overcome the unlawful presence bars before they can return. Before 2013, these foreign nationals could not apply for a waiver until after they have appeared for their immigrant visa Read More

3 Tips for a Successful Asylum Interview

When you apply for asylum in the United States without being subject to removal proceedings or arrests, you will need to present your case to a government official during an interview. The officer will test your credibility and legal claim to asylum by evaluating the information in your application. Because of this, you must be able to present your case in a clear and coherent manner. To do so, you’ll need to prepare Read More

How a Criminal Conviction Can Impact Your Immigration Case

If you are not yet a United States citizen, an arrest or criminal conviction, no matter how minor or how far in the past, can have negative repercussions on your immigration status. You may find that you cannot get permanent residence, citizenship, or even a work visa. You may also be detained or deported. For this reason, contacting a lawyer as early in the process as possible is your best chance of redeeming Read More

Join us for a panel discussion + film

Join us for a panel discussion and film in support of Americans for Immigrant Justice, presented by Aqua Foundation for Women The State of US Immigration Policy: What it Means to Miami Saturday • September 15th at 12:30 pm O Cinema Wynwood 90 NW 29th Street, Miami Get tickets here! Read More

It’s Great to Be a Miami Hurricane!

Attorney Sanchez-Roig is looking forward to teaching Business, Entertainment, and Sports Immigration Law at the University of Miami School of Law, this coming Fall. Course Link: https://lawapps2.law.miami.edu/clink/course.aspx?cof_id=3266 Read More