The Trump administration deported at least 337,287 unauthorized immigrants in the year 2018. These removals represent a 17% increase compared to the total number of deportations in 2017. Most immigrants decry the complicated U.S. immigration legal system.
If you’re hoping to immigrate into the United States or you’re dealing with legal status from the inside, navigating the legal system can be a real headache. An Immigration lawyer serves to bridge this gap.
Dealing with a new set of laws in a foreign country isn’t easy. You don’t want to have law enforcement officers trailing you at all times. The emotional, financial and mental impact of forceful deportation is also devastating.
An immigration lawyer offers you a legal shoulder to depend on during such cases. Could you be wondering what immigration lawyers do? Here, we breakdown the work of an immigration attorney.
Who Is an Immigration Lawyer?
An immigration lawyer deals with specific legal issues revolving around immigration. Immigration refers to the process of leaving your home country with the intent of settling in another country. The act of immigrating could refer to a specific length of time, or on a matter of permanency.
Lawyers, just like most other professionals, can opt to specialize in immigration laws. Most immigration lawyers do much more than helping you become an American citizen. These legal officers also take up other legal matters on behalf of immigrants.
Have you been wondering if an immigration lawyer can help you deal with other specific legal issues you could be facing? Here’re some particular areas where immigration attorneys can serve you.
- Applying for Citizenship
The United States Department of Immigration naturalized 756,800 immigrants in the fiscal year 2018. Applying for citizenship, screening, and the eventual approval of citizenship can be a long and complex process. You might also waste time and money if you don’t know the right doors to knock.
An immigration lawyer helps you deal with this process. These lawyers understand the dynamics around eligibility. Whether the process of gaining citizenship is through naturalization, marriage, parents or military involvement, you could do with legal support.
Your immigration lawyer assists you with the citizenship test when the time comes. You can also rely on the immigration attorney to help you obtain citizenship when dealing with emergencies.
The process of gathering all the documentation needed and preparing for screening isn’t a walk in the park. An immigration lawyer can help you during this process and ensure that your application succeeds.
- Representing You in Case of Removal Proceedings
Trends in deportations suggest that the Trump administration has deported fewer immigrants than the Obama regime. Even so, the number of removals is still high. An immigration lawyer can help you deal with any removal proceedings you could be facing.
If you’re facing deportation proceedings, it’s normal to get fidgety. The law enforcement agencies treat the unlawful entry of immigrants as a serious crime. Immigration lawyers help you scan through the immigration law for any probable relief.
The lawyers can help you line up witnesses and to prepare for court appearances. Hiring a reliable attorney also ensures that you deal with court procedural requirements. You also don’t need to worry about managing deadlines as long as you have an excellent lawyer.
- Handling Undocumented Status Issues
The total U.S foreign-born population was close to 45.6 million in the year 2019. Out of these individuals, close to 10 million are undocumented. If you live in the United States illegally for whatever reason, you could be in constant fear of legal implications.
Obtaining legal status isn’t always easy, especially if the law considers you an alien. Some cases of undocumented aliens are genuine and require immediate legal help. If you have overstayed your Visa and have since become an illegal alien in the United States, the law categorizes you as a criminal.
Under the prosecutorial discretion provisions, undocumented aliens with justifiable reasons for their illegal status have a right to relief. If you are a student or you have close family members who are legally in the United States, you can seek relief. An immigration lawyer can help you obtain deferred action or a work permit in such cases.
- Applying for Asylum
The asylum application process can be complex. Your attempt to obtain approval for your asylum request can take months or even years. Most of these delays and denials are a consequence of inadequate paperwork or errors of omission.
An immigration lawyer can help you prepare the application for asylum. Most individuals running away from their home countries due to credible fear find refuge in the United States. However, despite the trauma, you need to show a course for your application for refuge.
Specific cases of asylum get the nod depending on the underlying credibility of reason. Are you wondering what an immigration lawyer does? These legal officers can help you prepare and apply for asylum.
- Immigration Lawyers Help You Recognize You Rights
Immigrants often end up on the receiving end. Whether it’s due to the infringement of their rights by law enforcement agencies or employers, it’s a no brainer that immigrants often suffer constant infringement of their constitutional privileges. Part of an immigration lawyer’s role is to help you as an immigrant reaffirm your rights.
You don’t have to suffer in silence when your employer tries to disenfranchise you. This immigration attorney can help you deal with any infringement of your rights and all the other aforementioned issues related to the immigration process.
Talk to an Immigration Lawyer Today
The legal immigration system in the United States is complex. Even the most experienced immigration attorneys often find grey areas when handling immigration-related issues.
Are you wondering how to go about a pending immigration matter? Dealing with a reliable immigration lawyer who’s well-versed with immigration laws can be helpful. You could be dealing with an application for citizenship, deportation, seeking asylum, or addressing undocumented status.
Whichever your legal issue could be, an immigration attorney can help you find your way around the matter.
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