Deportation Defense Lawyers Near You

The United States has one of the highest immigration rates, so it necessarily follows that deportation cases are also pretty common here. While it is true that U.S. immigration law allows non-citizens to go through a process to improve their immigration status, the reality is this privilege comes with certain constraints and conditions. Primarily, this is rooted in the state’s duty to protect its nationals and territory from conceivable security threats.

However, as in all legal disputes, it is important that a person who is the subject of deportation proceedings have proper representation in court and have their legal rights protected. If you are looking for lawyers who specialize in deportation proceedings and have substantial experience in the defense of immigrants or non-citizens facing deportation, you can find the best deportation defense lawyer near you through Lawrina.

A deportation defense lawyer is one who has the experience and is competent to represent immigrants, permanent residents, or other non-citizen individuals facing deportation. There are many lawyers and law firms that handle illegal immigrant cases, particularly in the nonprofit sector, pro bono or at a very low cost.

While the federal government, through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), does have the right and duty to protect the people and the territory against potential risks, it is legal that non-citizens facing deportation have the right to defend themselves, too. Precisely, that is what deportation defense attorneys near you are for.

In essence, a deportation defense lawyer represents permanent residents or legal immigrants who are at risk for deportation in immigration courts. They also represent those who are seeking asylum. Some specific tasks that a deportation defense lawyer does are:

• Give legal advice to a client who is facing deportation or removal;
• Outline the best steps upon receipt of a Notice to Appear from the DHS;
• Defend clients during deportation and removal proceedings before immigration courts;
• Prepare your case and arguments in immigration court hearings;
• Appeal the decision of the judge in case of an unfavorable judgment; and
• Explore other forms of relief available for your specific case, based on your immigration and status and other personal circumstances.

Ultimately, you should hire a deportation defense lawyer near you if you are facing deportation, which, as mentioned earlier, is as soon as you receive a Notice to Appear from the DHS. Deportation or removal proceedings generally begin with this notice, which is a charging document the DHS files before the immigration court to formally start the deportation or removal process in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Therefore, upon receipt of a Notice to Appear, it is important that you are properly apprised of your rights, as well as the next best steps and possible defenses against your deportation from the country. Certainly, a deportation defense lawyer is the most competent person to be by your side in this situation.

Other instances where you would want to engage the services of a deportation defense attorney are when:

• You are facing a criminal charge that might affect your current immigration status
• You might have committed status violations
• You are currently an immigrant who just wants to broaden his/her immigration knowledge

Definitely, in these situations and even if there is no actual deportation case yet, a deportation defense lawyer can come to your aid for legal advice and consultation.

There are a number of things to consider to finding the right deportation defense lawyer for you. Here are some of the things you should take note of and look into:

• Is the deportation defense lawyer near me, so meetings, hearings, and consultations are convenient?
• Does the deportation defense lawyer have substantial experience and training in the field? What is his/her client's success rate?
• Does the deportation defense lawyer have the necessary knowledge and background in representing clients in immigration court hearings?
• Is the deportation defense lawyer one I could afford?

Typically, the average cost of a deportation defense lawyer is around $7,000. This amount, of course, could go much lower or higher depending on the work the lawyer does. For instance, if the deportation defense attorney is to attend several immigration court hearings to represent the client, the fees would necessarily increase.

Apart from the extent of the work, another factor that would affect how much a deportation defense lawyer would cost is his/her manner of charging. While there are deportation defense lawyers that offer a flat-fee legal service, there are those who use the traditional hourly billing method. Usually, the latter would cost more because the client will have to pay every time the lawyer works on the deportation or removal case. To manage this, some lawyers allow clients to set a limit in the retainer agreement as to the number of hours they want the deportation defense attorney to spend on their accounts.

Fortunately for concerned immigrants and other non-citizens, there are deportation defense attorneys who do initial consultations for free. Typically, a free consultation would last 30 minutes at most, and it could be facilitated by phone or in person. There are some attorneys who do virtual consultations, too.

For other consultations, or for instances when time is of the essence and the deportation defense attorney is called to assist and represent the client immediately, the lawyer may charge his/her regular hourly fee.