Green Card

The first step to permanently staying in the United States is to become what the government refers to as a lawful permanent resident. In order to do this, you have to obtain a United States Permanent Resident Card. This is commonly referred to as a green card...

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Immigration Case Review

July 12, 2010

What You Need to Know About Deportation

Immigrating can give you enough worries, but when it comes to being deported, you really need to know the laws. Are there ways to avoid deportation? What happens if you are deported? What reasons can you be deported? And can you ever return? You should always consult with an experienced immigration lawyer if you fear deportation. A good lawyer can save you a lot of grief. This blog guide can help too.

What is deportation?
Deportation means you are removed from the United States by the federal government. You are are considered an alien, and it occurs when you break immigration or criminal laws. For example, if you are caught selling drugs, you may be deported. If you’re here illegally, even if you’ve broken no other laws, you will almost always be deported. There are many ways to be deported. You could have violated nonimmigrant status, you terminated your permanent residency status, you engaged in marriage fraud, voted illegally, and a variety of other reasons you can ask your lawyer about.

Can you avoid deportation?
Yes, though if you’re here illegally already you may have some trouble. This is something to talk about with your lawyer. Being deported is a very big deal. If you are here illegally, it may be best to leave and try to come into the country legally with the help of family sponsorship. If you have family here who are already permanent residents, they can sponsor you to be the same (meaning you get a green card). If you are here legally, be smart and understand if you break laws, sometimes even seemingly minor ones, you can be deported. You can be deported until you become a naturalized U.S. citizen. So be mindful of the laws.

What happens if you are deported?
What happens is you get an NTA (Notice to Appear) from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement branch, giving you the reasons for deportation. You will have a hearing, where you have the option to hire a lawyer.  You have more options here than you might think. You may be able to apply for relief, meaning you can stay. If the judge decides against you, you will be deported unless you win an appeal.

Can you return?

This does depend on the nature of your case. Some who are deported are never allowed to return to the U.S.

Who can help?
There is a trial, where evidence and witnesses can be shown, and where a lawyer can help you stay. If you can win in court you can avoid being deported. It’s smart to not break criminal and immigration laws in the first place. In either case, you need to hire an experienced immigration lawyer. Without a lawyer, your chances are slim.

June 30, 2010

Thoughts on Illegal Immigration and Amnesty

The controversial Arizona law and “amnesty debate” are very divisive issues with people on both sides of the issue – not to mention both political parties. Is there a middle ground? This blog isn’t designed to provoke issues, but let’s consider what illegal immigration is, what amnesty is, and what each means for immigrant rights.

What is illegal immigration?
To U.S citizens, illegal immigration evokes images of Latin people climbing fences and running across borders. Of course, that’s the main point of disagreement for both sides. Illegal immigration is being an undocumented individual living in the United States. You have no visa or green card; you managed to get here illegally; and you came for a variety of reasons.

Why come to the United States?

Let’s face it: most U.S citizens are descendants of peoples who wanted to get a better life for themselves and their families (though you can easily bring up slavery and the choice involved there). It’s the same with illegal immigrants today. Only, it’s not the gold rush, or potato famine, or a world war today. Most illegal immigrants are Mexicans who cross over looking for a better life. There are jobs in Mexico and other Latin countries, but there are simply more opportunities here in the U.S. Even in   touch U.S. economies, illegals cross the border, quite often with families, just to get a minimum wage job which pays twice what they might get paid in Mexico or another country.

What is Amnesty?
Amnesty, without going into dictionary terms, involves the debate on whether these illegal immigrants should be given the right to stay in the U.S. So, if one man and wife crossed the border, worked some jobs, but never applied for a green card, there options would either amnesty, being given the right to stay, or being deported.

There are arguments on both sides. It’s clearly a controversial issue, but many are ignoring what amnesty can bring to this country. You can still make the border stronger so potential terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals can be kept out. Drug running is a major problem with the current system, there’s no doubt. But perhaps amnesty can also bridge the gap between the two sides. To be frank, Latinos are becoming a very big part of our country. In order to bridge the gap, amnesty can save discussion for other major issues.

Yes, illegal immigration is one of this country’s major problems. Illegal drug and human trafficking is also a clear violation of law. Yet working undocumented illegals should be given the opportunity for a better life.

If you’re interested in moving to the U.S., be smart and do so legally. You can be sponsored by a relative currently here with a green card. If you’re unsure of the process, contact an immigration lawyer.

June 3, 2010

What Does the Arizona Immigration Law Mean?

With immigration reform a hot debate ongoing across state, ethnic, and party lines, the recent  passage of the Arizona immigration law has many in a uproar. While the law technically will not go into motion until August,there are already many people saying the law is illegal and should not be upheld. Add to the the fact immigration reform itself is still a topic of interest, you may be confused about what this all means. What will the immigration law mean to you? How will it effect laws? How will it effect daily life? And perhaps most importantly, will it really be allowed?

The Details of the Law

The law is pretty subjective and how it will be enforced is where the debate started. In Arizona, if the law is upheld and enacted in August, you will have to carry immigration papers wherever you go, and if an officer of the law has suspicion that you are here illegally, you can be questioned. That’s pretty much how it works. If you are ever found without your immigration documents, you can be arrested. If an officer has reason to believe you are here illegally, he or she  can question you.

How will police act?

Opponents of the new law point out how officers can now profile people, most definitely Hispanics, as potential illegal immigrants. According to the backers of the law, this will not occur. The officers will be trained  in how to properly act when investigating someone. The governor of Arizona made this point clear. Opponents are saying that won’t matter, that Hispanics will be unduly harassed. And if you are ever without your papers, you can be arrested.

What does it mean to you?

It’ s pretty clear the Hispanic population of Arizona will be the most effected. The main reasons of the law — the problem with human and drug trafficking from the the border of U.S. and  Mexico, and how many illegals are living and working  in the U.S. — may make it seem you are fine if you are legal. This will still have an effect on you, as an officer will have to make a decision on whether or not to look over your documents. Some opponents have compared this law to “Nazism”, but though that is a bit extreme, it make a point. You might be profiled simply because you are a Hispanic person living in Arizona.

Will it Stay?

There were hundreds of protests involving thousands of people not only in Arizona but across the country when the law was signed. It will not be final until August. There are some saying the law is unconstitutional. President Obama  himself has called it “misguided” and something to be reformed in federal immigration laws. Whether it stays or not we’ll have to wait and see.

June 1, 2010

Why Did Obama Send 1,200 National Guard Troops to the Mexican Border?

The big news on immigration is that President Obama is ordering National Guard Troops to the Border with Mexico. Up to 1,200 troops will be involved. Why did he do this? And how will it effect immigrant rights and views on immigration in the U.S.?

What really happened?
The main reason for doing this is drug trafficking and security problems along the Mexican border. Border states are facing problems stopping illegals from crossing the border. So Obama, under pressure from border state politicians, decided  to send troops more a gesture and promise of more to come than anything. The point is the U.S. will start looking at longer term solutions to the border. So we can expect even more troops and agents to be protecting the border in time.

Why is this happening?

The main reason you’ll hear from news sites is that border state politicians such as John McCain were going to act themselves if Obama did not act. Obama was put under pressure when politicians said they would send troops to the border, bypassing the president and perhaps starting a rapid debate. While it’s still a debate, Obama sent the troops more as a point that he does consider this a problem.

One big problem occurring on the Mexican border is  human and drug trafficking. While it’s very unlikely this number of troops will make an impact, the point has been made.

What will the effects be?
The effects of 1,200 troops will be more for show. Can we really impact human and drug trafficking? To say no or yes would be wrong on this blog, but it should be pointed out there is debate on whether we will ever be able to slow the amounts of drugs, illegal immigrants, and human traffickers from crossing the border.

What does Obama want?
On The Week, a news magazine, it’s pointed out Obama is trying to open up the idea that comprehensive immigration reform is needed,and  he can be the one who finally gets it done. Former President Bush tried a similar strategy of sending thousands of troops to the border in order to initiate talk on immigration reform; it failed for Bush, but we’ll have to see if Obama can pull it off.

What are other politicians doing?
John McCain, senator for Arizona, is the main player who forced Obama’s hand.. Of course, immigration is a heated debate currently in  the country, with some controversial state laws in play. McCain and Arizona forced Obama’s hand. Other  politicians have followed McCain into the battle.

What will the effects be for immigrants?
Legal immigrants  will have no problems. It’s clear illegal immigration, especially involving human and drug trafficking, is a national problem. States are going to start acting more. Immigration reform is on the horizon. We’ll just have to wait and see how this effects immigrant rights, but we likely won’t have to wait long.

May 26, 2010

Problem – You Hired the Wrong Immigration Lawyer

The immigration process is taking forever, you’re unhappy with how it’s going, and maybe your lawyer is overcharging you. Can you fire your lawyer? What if they made mistakes in your case? Are they breaking laws?

Can you fire your lawyer?

Yes, at any time, if you are unhappy with your immigration lawyer, you can fire him or her. You are still liable for any fees the lawyer has charged up to that point, but no future fees. In  most cases, there is no problem with firing your lawyer. If your immigration process is ongoing, it may be problematic to change lawyers. However, if you are very unhappy, it’s allowed.

Who do you hire next?
How do you hire your next lawyer to take your case? Obviously something went wrong with the first lawyer, so you might want to query several. If time isn’t on your side, take a day to query lawyers asking for fees, experience, and availability.

What if the lawyer failed in the case?
You might also ask if the lawyer is promising your immigration process will be very easy. In legal terms, you can always face the problem of failure. If a lawyer is promising the world, consider that no case is perfect and a winner until the end of it. If you get your green card or earn citizenship, it is a success. But if be careful if the lawyer is promising it will be very easy. In most cases, it will take time and effort.

How much does an immigration lawyer cost?

Lawyer fees vary depending on time involved. You should query more than one and check their rates for your specific situation. You will likely get an average rate.

Should you hire the cheapest?
You should not hire neither the first lawyer you find nor the cheapest. Be thorough in searching.

What if your lawyer fails to stay in contact?

If your lawyer fails to stay in contact with you, it might be wise to consider other counsel. After all, this is your future on the line. Bad communication does not make them bad lawyers, but it hurts your process and can cost you time.

What if your lawyer is unethical?

If your immigration lawyer is acting unethically, you have many options. This includes punishment such as suspension, or even disbarment from law (where they can no longer practice law). If you’re worried your lawyer is breaking laws and putting your case in jeopardy, you should contact  a local attorney. If you are not in the country, you may contact the local U.S. consul for assistance.

What’s the difference between the right immigration attorney and the wrong one? The right one cares about you, spends significant time on your case, and does not overcharge you. And you’ll know a bad one when you work with them. The good news is, you can always get a new one.

January 22, 2009

The Cost of Illegal Immigration in Texas

The cost of illegal immigration in Texas is something that may be of interest to you. It will be of great interest and importance to you if you live in Texas.

Illegal immigration is something many Americans are concerned about. They wonder if there is an answer to the problem of immigration. They wonder if anything can be done about illegal immigration.

What is illegal immigration? How do you define it?

Illegal immigration to the United States refers to the act of aliens or foreign nationals violating United States immigration national laws and policies by immigrating to the United States without proper consent from the United States government. An illegal immigrant is a person who is in the United States without doing so in accordance with United States immigration laws.

If you have any doubt as to how big an issue illegal immigration is, think about this. There were an estimated 3 million illegal immigrants in the United States in 1980. By 2005, the number had risen to over 11 million. Today, there are probably more than 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Where do these people come from? Who are they?

Over 55% of the illegal immigrants are estimated to come from Mexico. When you realize that the state of Texas borders the country of Mexico, you begin to understand how important as issue illegal immigration is to most Texans.

There are several problems that are caused by illegal immigration. Some of these are security issues, over population, racial violence and increased crime rate.

One of the largest problems caused by illegal immigration is what it costs the American taxpayer. In Texas, the cost of illegal immigration is staggering and mind boggling.

The illegal immigrant population in Texas is costing more than $4.7 billion a year for medical care, incarceration and education. This is based on an analysis of the latest census data for the state of Texas. The estimated tax contributions of illegal immigrant workers are around $1 billion. This still leaves the cost of illegal immigration in Texas to be around $3.7 billion a year. This amounts to a cost of around $725 a year for each Texas household of a native-born resident.

The costs to the state of Texas for education, medical care and incarceration that comes as a result of illegal immigration are what are specifically looked at in this analysis. The largest cost areas to Texas are these three things. They are the same three things that were analyzed in a study by the Urban Institute in 1994. This study gives a baseline for comparison ten years later. The conclusions of this report have been supported by other studies done during the interim.

These are not the only costs of illegal immigration in Texas. There are other costs associated with this problem. For example, there is the cost in time and manpower at trying to stop illegal immigration.

There are other costs of illegal immigration in Texas that should also be taken into account by state and federal officials. Even without considering the other significant costs of illegal immigration in Texas, the costs in these three areas are large and rapidly increasing.

This high annual cost of illegal immigration is seen primarily in these three areas. They are:

  • Education – Texans spend more than $4billion every year on education for illegal immigrant children and their United States born brothers and sisters. This figure is based on estimates of the documented costs of K through 12 schooling and the illegal immigrant population in Texas. Illegal aliens make up about 11.9 percent of the K through 12 public school students in Texas.
  • Health Care – Health care that is given to Texas’s illegal alien population amounts to around $520 million per year. This is Texas taxpayer-funded medical health care that is being provided.
  • Incarceration – The uncompensated cost of incarcerating illegal aliens in the county and state prisons is around $150 million a year. This figure does not take in to account related law enforcement costs, judicial expenditures, local jail costs or the monetary costs of the crimes that led to incarceration.

As mentioned earlier, tax contributions of illegal immigrant workers offset these costs to some extent. However, they do not come close to matching the expenses of illegal immigration in Texas.

The cost of illegal immigration in Texas is far greater than most Texans would imagine. It is even more frightening to think that this cost is growing rapidly. With this in mind, can anything be done about illegal immigration? Can it be stopped, or at least greatly slowed down?

The primary responsibility for fighting illegal immigration belongs to the federal government. It remains to be seen what steps and measures the United States government will take in trying to stop and deal with illegal immigration.

There are also measures and steps that Texas can take to deal with the problem. For example, the state could attempt to systematically collect information on illegal alien use of taxpayer-funded services. The state could also get information on where illegal aliens are employed. Employers could then be held financially accountable.

You or a relative may be in the state of Texas illegally. You may be living in fear of being caught by the authorities and facing deportation, fines and jail time. It is not your desire to remain here illegally. You want to be here legally. You want this state to be your home, but you need help. You may need the help of a legal professional.

A good immigration attorney may be able to help you or your relative stay in the United States legally. He or she may be able to help you or your relative get a green card. (link to page Green Card)

Immigration law is what an immigration attorney specializes in. They specialize in cases and issues involving immigration, obtaining green cards, naturalization and citizenship. They keep up with the updates and changes to immigration law.

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