8 types of deportation relief available in Texas

San Antonio, TX – If you are an illegal immigrant in Texas, you live with the constant fear you may be arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during a raid and placed in deportation proceedings. The same may happen if you are arrested on a minor offense such as a traffic law violation and the police discover you are not a legal permanent resident and you don’t have a visa.

It is natural to be scared if that happens to you, but you must understand that deportation proceedings take a long time, a couple of months at the very least. It’s not like they’re going to put you on the first plane back to your country of origin. There’s plenty of time to contact knowledgeable immigration lawyers in San Antonio who can help you avoid being deported. If you’re detained in an immigration center, contact your family as soon as possible and tell them to get you an attorney as soon as possible as you don’t get free legal counsel in there.

How can you avoid deportation?

There are several types of relief from deportation available in the United States. Some of the most common types of relief are:

Cancellation of removal

This is a form of relief available to certain non-permanent residents who have been in the United States for at least 10 years, have good moral character, and can demonstrate that their removal would result in exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to their U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child. If you have been convicted of certain offenses you may not qualify, but seasoned Texas immigration lawyers may be able to obtain a waiver for you, so you meet the ‘good moral character’ requirements.

Asylum

Asylum is a form of protection available to individuals who have fled their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Adjustment of status

Adjustment of status is a process by which an individual can obtain lawful permanent resident status while inside the United States. This process is available to individuals who are eligible for an immigrant visa, have been inspected and admitted or paroled into the United States, and are not otherwise ineligible for adjustment of status. Dedicated immigration lawyers may be able to prove you meet the requirements for either family or employment-based adjustment of status.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

TPS is a form of protection available to individuals from certain countries that have been designated by the U.S. government as unsafe or unstable due to war, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions.

Withholding of Removal

Withholding of removal is a form of relief that prevents an individual from being removed to a country where they would face persecution or torture.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

DACA is a program that provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization to certain individuals who came to the United States as children and meet other eligibility requirements.

U Visa

The U visa is a form of relief available to individuals who have been victims of certain crimes and have cooperated with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

VAWA is a form of relief available to individuals who have been victims of domestic violence, and are married to or the child of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

If you want to help someone stay in Texas with their family and friends, get in touch with an experienced lawyer at the Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen in San Antonio and discuss the best deportation relief options at their disposal.

Contact info:

Law Office of J. Joseph Cohen

206 East Locust Street

San Antonio, TX 78212

Phone: (210) 769-3273