Across the US, ICE has begun arresting people after they appear for their immigration court hearings. ICE attorneys are asking the immigration judge to close the person’s case with the immigration court in order to place them in a type of rapid deportation proceeding called “expedited removal”. After the hearing, ICE then arrests and detains the person. Though we don’t know exact information about who ICE is targeting, ICE may be focusing on people who have been in the United States for less than two years and who are seeking asylum.
The administration is doing this, in part, to cause fear and to discourage people from going to court. If you have an upcoming immigration court hearing, empower yourself and be prepared!
- Talk to a trusted immigration attorney before your next court date! An attorney can help you understand the status of your case and how to oppose the government’s request to terminate it.
- If you live in Oregon, you may qualify for free immigration legal assistance through the Equity Corps of Oregon. Call 1-888-274-7292 to enroll; make sure to mention the date of your next hearing when you call!
- Make a plan to attend your hearing. If you have an attorney, coordinate with them ahead of time. If you don’t have an attorney, try to attend court with a friend or family member who has lawful permanent residence or U.S. citizenship.
- If your court is in Portland, you can request a trained legal accompanier from IMirJ using this link
- Remember, if you do not attend your immigration court hearing, you will most likely be ordered deported. This means you will have a removal order that ICE can use to quickly deport you, and you will lose the right to apply for asylum or other relief from deportation.
- Oppose the government’s attempt to close your case.
- If you are seeking asylum or another form of protection from deportation, you have a right to have your case heard! If the ICE attorney asks the judge to close, or terminate, your case, you can
- Ask the judge for more time to find an attorney to help you oppose termination;
- Ask the judge for time to file a written motion opposing the government’s effort to close your case;
- Tell the judge that you need him or her to hear your asylum case because you are afraid to return to your country of citizenship;
- Tell the judge any other reason it is important to you that your case move forward in immigration court;
- If the judge grants the government’s request to terminate (or close) your case, tell the judge that you will appeal the decision. You must appeal within 30 days; Equity Corps of Oregon can help you do so if you do not already have an attorney.
- If you are seeking asylum or another form of protection from deportation, you have a right to have your case heard! If the ICE attorney asks the judge to close, or terminate, your case, you can
- If you are detained and placed in expedited removal, the government can deport you quickly unless you pass an interview about your fear of return to your country of origin. This is known as a “credible fear interview.”
- You should state that you are afraid to return to your country loudly and often to ICE officers and request that you be given a credible fear interview.
If you have a lawyer who will help you with this interview, make sure you have their number memorized and insist that the officer who interviews you calls that lawyer before you proceed with the interview.