Picture this, you are walking on the street minding your own business. You’re undocumented. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent stops you, or a police officer stops you and calls ICE or CBP to check on your status. You have nothing on your person showing you’ve been the in U.S. for the past two years or longer. You can be arrested and deported without any due process. You may not even get a chance to contact a lawyer!
Recently, ICE expanded “expedited removal” to include persons unlawfully in the United States for less than 2 years. That means you will not have an opportunity to apply for relief from removal in proceedings if you cannot prove you have been in the U.S. for two years when you are arrested. It is very important to keep a copy of proof of when you entered the U.S. and proof of presence for 2 years on your person, in your car and with your family in case you are arrested.
Please remember that if you get arrested and are undocumented, YOU WILL INSTANTLY HAVE TO SHOW YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR TWO YEARS OR YOU WILL BE REMOVED WITHOUT CONTACTING A LAWYER OR SEEING AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE TO DEFEND YOUR CASE. We highly recommend that you schedule an appointment to prepare a notice called a G-28 that gives our firm permission to speak to ICE on your behalf if you are arrested. In times like these, it is extremely important to be prepared. Please call us at 248-932-0990 to schedule a consultation.