Musings on Immigration

A person who is detained at an immigration detention center can ask for a bond hearing to see if the judge will agree to release him on bond. The detainee can represent himself or he can choose to be represented by an attorney. On the opposite side, we have the government attorney (or ICE attorney) who is typically fighting to deport a detainee. A bond hearing is conducted to present to the judge arguments in favor and against the release of this detainee. Generally, you only get one bond hearing , so you have one chance to present the best arguments, evidence, and witnesses to help your case. You should not take a bond hearing lightly. Although this is not a formal immigration hearing, what you do—or not do—at a bond hearing can determine what remaining time you will have in the U.S., how quickly your case will be processed (detained cases are processed quicker), and where your case will be heard (for example, the court immigration in Stewart/Lumpkin, Georgia will typically hea...

Porque a partir de Noviembre 20, 2014, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (“DHS” por sus siglas en Ingles), tiene nuevas prioridades de deportación ( http://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/14_1120_memo_prosecutorial_discretion.pdf ). Si usted no es ciudadano Americano y su situación conlleva uno de los escenarios descritos aquí abajo, usted podría caer en un centro de detención: • Usted tiene una condena por una felonía; • Usted ha sido recientemente aprehendido en la frontera con Estados Unidos; • Usted tienen una condena por una felonía agravada como está definida en la sección         101(a)(43) de Acta de Naturalización e Inmigración (“INA” por sus siglas en inglés); • Usted tiene una condena por un misdemeanor significante (por ejemplo, ofensas de         DUI, violencia doméstica, abuso sexual, robo, armas de fuego, y distribución y         trafico de droga); • Usted entró a los Estados Unidos...

While talks of immigration reform continue there is little spoken of the marked increased number of detained foreign nationals by ICE- the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) enforcement arm.   Congress’ expansion of the immigration detention system has created a profitable market for both private prison corporations and local governments.    In fiscal year 2013 almost 244 state and county jails were contracted to house immigrant detainees on behalf of ICE (nearly 70 percent of the detained immigrant population).  Private correctional corporations have gotten in on this boom as well.  These corporations have built facilities strictly to house immigration detainees. Currently, ICE utilizes seven Contract Detention Facilities (CDF).  Considering this reality below is a summary provided by ICE regarding ICE detainers. Q: What is an immigration detainer? A : An immigration detainer is a notice that DHS issues to federal, state and lo...