Removal & Court Defense
Removal Proceedings
Facing deportation? You need experienced legal representation immediately. Attorney Shair provides aggressive removal defense in immigration courts across the United States.
Facing deportation? You need experienced legal representation immediately. Attorney Shair provides aggressive removal defense in immigration courts across the United States.
Removal proceedings are the formal legal process by which the U.S. government seeks to deport a non-citizen from the United States. Initiated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through a Notice to Appear (NTA), removal proceedings are heard before an immigration judge in the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
Removal proceedings are among the most serious and time-sensitive matters in immigration law. The stakes are enormous — a final order of removal can result in mandatory departure from the United States, multi-year or permanent bars to returning, and separation from family, employment, and the life you have built here. Every decision, every deadline, and every hearing matters.
"In removal proceedings, time is the enemy. Attorney Shair responds immediately to every NTA, prepares exhaustively for every hearing, and fights aggressively at every stage to protect your right to remain in the United States."
Removal and deportation refer to the same thing — the forced departure of a non-citizen from the United States under an order issued by an immigration judge or reinstated by DHS. The modern legal term is 'removal,' which replaced 'deportation' under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). A removal order can have serious long-term consequences including multi-year or permanent bars to returning to the United States.
Yes. Lawful permanent residents can be placed in removal proceedings and deported if they are convicted of certain crimes (including aggravated felonies, crimes involving moral turpitude, drug offenses, and domestic violence crimes), committed fraud in obtaining their Green Card, abandoned their residence, or engaged in other deportable conduct under INA § 237. However, LPRs have significant rights in removal proceedings and may qualify for various forms of relief. Never assume a conviction will not affect your immigration status — consult Attorney Shair immediately.
An in absentia removal order is issued when a non-citizen fails to appear at a scheduled immigration court hearing. USCIS will attempt to notify you of your hearing through the NTA and subsequent notices — even if you did not receive them, the court may still issue an order against you. In absentia orders can sometimes be challenged through a motion to reopen if you can show you did not receive notice or that exceptional circumstances prevented your attendance. This is time-sensitive — contact Attorney Shair immediately.
The forms of relief available depend on your specific situation. Common forms include: Cancellation of Removal (10 years of continuous presence for non-LPRs; 5 years LPR status for LPRs); Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT protection; Adjustment of Status (if an immigrant visa is available); Voluntary Departure; Waivers (I-601, I-601A, I-212); and Prosecutorial Discretion. Attorney Shair evaluates every available option before advising on strategy.
Removal proceedings move fast — hearings are scheduled, deadlines are strict, and a single missed appearance results in an automatic removal order. Attorney Shair has experience in both affirmative immigration applications and defensive representation in immigration court. He prepares exhaustively for every hearing, knows the applicable case law, and fights aggressively for every client facing the most serious immigration consequence — removal from the United States.
Attorney Shair provides aggressive, experienced removal defense — call now for a free, immediate consultation.