Lancaster Immigration Law Blog

Where to seek support when facing deportation dilemmas

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

Many Pennsylvania families are currently facing emotionally trying and legally challenging situations involving immigrant family members. Those facing deportation issues often feel overwhelmed and unsure where to turn for support as they try to figure out a way to help a spouse, parent or other loved one who has either been taken into custody or received written notice of a removal threat, personally or by mail. The good news is that there are often options available to challenge removal proceedings.

A main priority of experienced immigrant advocates is to help those facing deportation to minimize detention consequences and secure release of those taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. If you or your family member has already received a written Notice to Appear, then it's likely that removal proceedings have already been activated. You have the right to examine evidence and to file an appeal in a federal court.

U.S. citizen was locked up in immigration detention

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Monday, January 21, 2019.

Pennsylvania immigrants often encounter various challenges as they adapt to new lifestyles after emigrating from their countries of origin. In fact, sometimes, someone has been living and working in the United States for months (or even years) when a sudden legal problem regarding his or her status arises. It's stressful when such incidents occur. A recent situation was particularly egregious because the person who was locked up in an immigration detention center was a U.S. citizen and reportedly had the identification to prove it when he was taken into custody.

The young man not only is a citizen, born and raised in the U.S., he is a military veteran who served with the marine corps in Afghanistan. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. His family says that there have been numerous occasions where he has disappeared and had no idea where he'd been or what he'd done when he was located.

Removal hearing cancellations due to government shutdown

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Many Pennsylvania immigrants are currently detained for various reasons. While some immigrant may have sought asylum and must reside in detention until their cases are fully processed, others may be scheduled for a removal hearing. The current, partial U.S. government shutdown is reportedly having a negative impact on many immigrants, especially those who were prepared to appear at interviews or hearings, who have since been told that their appointments are indefinitely postponed.

Those who follow immigration news on a state or national level may already know that there is a tremendous backlog of court cases, sometimes stretching into months or even years. In fact, one immigration judge who was willing to speak about the issue stated that the current caseload places a heavy burden on judges and the current shutdown may only exacerbate the problem. The judge also said that the focus should be on the overall immigration system, not just border security issues.

Officials say man faced deportation multiple times before arrest

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Not everyone who emigrates from other countries of origin to Pennsylvania does so with all the proper paperwork in order. Many immigrants flee situations of violence or persecution, seeking asylum when they arrive at U.S. borders. Undocumented immigrants are undoubtedly at great risk for deportation.

A man in another state was recently arrested and placed in detention. Local authorities say they believe he murdered one of his co-workers. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers say they also have a case against the man, claiming he has been deported from the United States on multiple occasions.

Be prepared for an interview during the citizenship process

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Citizenship on Monday, December 24, 2018.

Many Pennsylvania immigrants dream of one day adjusting their statuses to become full-fledged citizens of the United States. It's the height of achievement in many immigrants' lives. However, it can be stressful, as well. There are several things that can be done to keep stress to a minimum during the citizenship process, especially regarding a naturalization interview.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services department sends out a notice to appear when an immigrant has filed an application to become a U.S. citizen. It is critical to note the time and date of the interview and to make sure one attends because the USCIS will not send out reminders after the first notice has been mailed and will not send out further notices if a meeting has been missed. If someone is unable to meet the scheduled interview date and time, he or she should immediately notify immigration officials at the appropriate office as soon as possible.

No need to navigate the asylum process alone

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Asylum on Monday, November 26, 2018.

U.S. immigration law is complex. It also changes often and even those who try to stay updated on such matters may feel overwhelmed at times because a regulation that applies to a particular situation one day might be obsolete the next. This is one of many reasons it helps to rely on experienced representation when trying to resolve immigration-related legal problems in Pennsylvania. A process that is often complicated is asylum, though it may be less so, if you seek legal support.

Perhaps you are one of many immigrants who fled your country of origin due to threats of violence, poverty or fear of persecution. Many people facing such circumstances arrive at U.S. borders in fear for their lives. On the other hand, maybe you have already been living in the United States, but your visa has expired and you wish to determine whether you are eligible for asylum.

Traffic stop led to a serious immigration detention problem

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

Pennsylvania residents who entered the United States without proper immigration paperwork may take interest in the case of a man in another state. It is not uncommon for undocumented immigrants to hold paying jobs, drive cars and otherwise contribute to local and national economies by carrying out normal duties of work and family life in the United States. Immigration detention problems can arise however, if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents get involved.

The man in question was driving when police pulled him over in a traffic stop in May. Police say the reason for the stop was that one of the headlights on the car was not functioning when it should have been. The cops issued a ticket, though the man later said he resolved the issue the same day by repairing the headlight and handing the ticket in at a local precinct. He also said officials told him there was nothing more to worry about and that the situation was resolved.

Employment-based immigration boosts US economy

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Employment Immigration on Monday, October 29, 2018.

Many Pennsylvania businesses are owned by people who emigrated from other countries. Employment-based immigration allows thousands of foreign nationals to obtain visas that allow them to enter the United States for the purpose of living and working here. Many of them bring their dreams of owning their own business along with them as well.

The National Foundation for American Policy stated that at least 55 percent of all billion dollar companies throughout the nation were founded by at least one immigrant. More than half of that percentage includes businesses based on the West Coast. Some people may be surprised to learn that companies with which they are quite familiar were started by immigrants.

Man's immigration detention ends when judge orders his release

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Tuesday, October 16, 2018.

Many people in Pennsylvania, along with others throughout the nation, were outraged back in July when a 35-year-old immigrant man was arrested while doing his job as a pizza delivery driver. He was stopped at a U.S. army base where he was sent to deliver food. Instead of being allowed to make the delivery, he was arrested and placed in an immigration detention center.

The man is married to a U.S. citizen and has two children who are also citizens. He has been working to rectify his own legal status situation regarding orders for him to leave the country that were issued in 2010. A judge ultimately ordered the man's release from detention.

Deportation is on the minds of many Southeast Asian immigrants

On behalf of Law Office of Troy J. Mattes, P.C. posted in Immigration Detention on Wednesday, October 3, 2018.

If all Southeast Asian families in Pennsylvania were to be surveyed regarding challenges they have overcome when adapting to immigrant life in the United States, their answers may be quite similar. In fact, at least 16,000 Southeast Asian families are currently trying to resolve deportation issues. Such situations are often highly stressful and financially draining on those involved.

A woman in another state says it has cost her thousands of dollars to try to persevere through her husband's immigration detention problems. He is a Cambodian refugee who came to the U.S. in the 1980s. In 2016, however, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in connection with a second-degree felony conviction in his past.