You may think your time in the United States is over once you receive a deportation order. There are still things you can do before you pack your bags. Your lawyer may be able to keep you from needing to leave the country. Here are 5 things you can do before giving up on your life in the US!
Find A Good Attorney
The first thing to do when you receive your deportation order is find a good attorney. If you were in America on a visa, check if your visa lawyer can represent you in court and help you file an appeal. It helps to have your documents ready before you meet with them, but calling them should take priority.
Gather Your Documents
The next thing you should do after receiving a deportation order is to gather any documents you have related to your visa. If your deportation order comes from committing a crime, find any documents related to that case, too.
The next three steps depend largely on the details of your case, so bear in mind that one size does not fit all for them. Contact your attorney before trying any of these solutions.
File an Appeal
If the Board of Immigration Appeal (BIA) suspects the judge who issued your deportation order of misusing or misinterpreting the law, it may be possible for you to file an appeal and revoke the order. It is also possible to appeal to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals or the United States Supreme Court if you believe the judge made a mistake. You have 30 days after your deportation order to file an appeal, so get an attorney’s advice ASAP.
Try to Reopen Your Case
If there is evidence that you are being wrongfully deported, you can try to reopen your case. However, the chances of reopening your case are slim. Usually, you have to be unable to defend yourself in your initial court appearance to reopen the case. Another reason to reopen your case is if conditions in your country of origin would make it unsafe for you to return.
Motion to Reconsider
It is possible to file a motion to reconsider your deportation order if the immigration judge applied the law incorrectly, leading to an unfair conclusion in the original court proceedings. However, a motion to reconsider can only be made within 30 days after you received your deportation order, so seek legal advice as soon as possible!
Conclusion
The first thing you should do after receiving an order for deportation is find an attorney to represent you and offer future advice. The more information you can give your attorney, the more likely they will be able to help you, so get your documents ready before meeting them. From there, your attorney should be able to tell you whether you can file an appeal, reopen your case, or motion to reconsider. And if you don’t have a good lawyer for your immigration or deportation needs, why not ask Modern Law Group?
