Asylum
Political Asylum and Refugees
The immigration laws of the United States provide protection for persons who are fleeing their country of nationality because of persecution. A refugee application is generally made outside the United States.
An asylee must show either past persecution or a well founded fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
Applications for asylum are generally made by persons who are physically present in the United States by filing at an Asylum office. Applications for asylum can also be made at the border or airport by persons who are able to show they have a credible fear of persecution. Applications which are not approved after an interview by an Asylum officer may be referred to the Immigration Court for a full hearing before an Immigration Judge.
Deportation and Immigration Defense
Strict immigration laws enacted in 1996 and subsequently have resulted in significant increases in cases before the immigration court. The immigration court holds administrative proceedings before an immigration judge who will determine factual issues, credibility, questions of law and eligibility for various form of immigration relief to avoid deportation. In some cases the immigration judge can exercise his or her discretion as to whether an individual deserves an immigration benefit or relief from deportation. The complexity of immigration laws demand representation by attorney experienced in immigration defense work. Unfortunately many persons find themselves in immigration court or with deportation orders which cannot easily be undone because they have attempted to represent themselves or have been misled by unlicensed person.
We defend persons in immigration courts in Los Angeles in regard to deportation and removal proceedings. We have been successful in obtaining immigration waivers and relief for past criminal convictions as well as obtaining grants of suspension of deportation and cancellation of removal.