Multilingual Staff
Receiving a Notice to Appear in immigration court is one of the most frightening experiences a person can face. Your home, your job, your family, and the life you have built in the United States are suddenly at risk. The removal process moves quickly, and the stakes could not be higher. What you do next matters enormously.
Removal proceedings begin when the government files a Notice to Appear with the immigration court, formally initiating the process to deport a non-citizen. The case is then heard before an immigration judge, where the government must establish that you are removable and you have the opportunity to present defenses and apply for relief.
In Illinois, removal cases are heard at the Chicago Immigration Court, one of the busiest in the country. Backlogs are significant, hearings can span months or years, and the procedural requirements are strict. Missing a deadline or appearing without representation puts you at a serious disadvantage. The government has attorneys. You should too.
There is no single profile of a person facing deportation. Removal proceedings can be triggered by a wide range of circumstances, including:
Understanding why the government believes you are removable is the first step in building a defense. In many cases, the government’s position can be challenged directly, or alternative forms of relief can be pursued even if removability is established.
Before pursuing any form of relief, we examine the government’s basis for removal carefully. Errors in the Notice to Appear, constitutional violations, and factual inaccuracies in the government’s case can all form the basis of a challenge that stops proceedings early.
Qualifying non-citizens may be able to cancel removal and obtain lawful permanent resident status by demonstrating continuous physical presence, good moral character, and exceptional hardship to a qualifying family member. Eligibility requirements differ for permanent and non-permanent residents.
If returning to your home country would expose you to persecution or torture, asylum or CAT protection may provide a defense to removal. We build the evidentiary record and represent clients through all immigration court hearings.
In some cases, it is possible to apply for lawful permanent residence while removal proceedings are ongoing. We evaluate eligibility in every case and pursue this option wherever it is available.
Prior immigration violations, certain criminal convictions, or other grounds of inadmissibility can sometimes be overcome through a waiver. We assess eligibility and prepare applications that present the strongest possible case for relief.
When remaining in the United States is not achievable, voluntary departure avoids a formal removal order on your record and preserves more options for future immigration benefits.
Studies consistently show that individuals with legal representation in immigration court are significantly more likely to achieve a favorable outcome than those who appear alone. The rules of evidence, procedural deadlines, and available forms of relief are not intuitive, and immigration judges cannot provide legal advice to unrepresented individuals.
Hirsch Law Group has handled removal cases at every level of complexity, from straightforward bond hearings to contested merits hearings before the immigration court and beyond. We know the Chicago immigration court, and we know how to build a defense that gives clients the best realistic chance of staying in the country they call home.
A removal order carries serious long-term consequences, including multi-year or permanent bars on returning to the United States. Voluntary departure allows you to leave on your own terms within a set period of time, without a formal removal order on your record, which preserves more options for future immigration benefits.
A criminal record can complicate removal proceedings significantly, as certain convictions trigger mandatory detention or bars on relief. However, not every conviction results in automatic removal, and the immigration consequences of a criminal record depend on the specific offense, the sentence imposed, and other factors. We analyze each client’s criminal and immigration history together to identify every available defense.
Facing removal proceedings is serious, but it does not mean the outcome is predetermined. There are defenses available, and the right legal representation makes a real difference. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start building your defense.
