For an immigrant in the United States, being taken into custody by ICE agents can be a uniquely distressing and traumatic event. The stakes are high, with a bad outcome potentially leading to your removal from the country. If you are not prepared to defend your rights and fight for your ability to stay in the U.S., deportation may be the most likely result.
You need help, and a Chicago immigration detention lawyer can advise you every step of the way. There are often options for getting out of detention and dealing with your legal issues while living freely in the U.S. Reach out to a compassionate immigration attorney right away to learn more.
When federal immigration authorities detain you, there are important differences between being arrested and held for a state or federal criminal offense. You have the right to an attorney when you are charged with a crime, but that is not the case when you are detained due to an alleged violation of immigration law.
The government may not provide an attorney in this situation, but you still have rights under the law. When ICE detains you, you can contact family members and legal counsel. While you must hire your own attorneys, access to your legal team is a vital right that the federal government may not limit.
When you are detained due to an ongoing immigration case, you typically have the chance to secure a bond and leave custody. While this option is not always available, an immigration detention attorney in Chicago could provide insight into when it could be possible.
People detained by federal immigration authorities have basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including freedom from torture and being provided sanitary living conditions.
When ICE detains you, it generally does so pending deportation and removal proceedings. This process can feel helpless, but there are ways to fight back. It is not uncommon to secure a favorable outcome that lets you remain in the country or even qualify for a green card.
One approach to defending against these allegations is to dispute that the violation ever happened. Alternatively, it may be possible to show that while the allegations are true, they do not mean you should be deported.
Other strategies might not allow you to leave detention and secure lawful permanent residency in the United States. If you qualify for asylum, you can use that as a defense while seeking adjustment of your status.
In rare cases, it may be possible to petition the prosecutors to use their discretion to drop the charges. This is typically possible only when the immigrant is the primary caretaker of a U.S. Citizen who is dependent on them. An immigration detention attorney in Chicago could review the facts before identifying the right strategy.
ICE detention is different than facing jail for a state crime, but important rights still apply. One of those rights is the ability to hire legal counsel to advocate on your behalf. Contact a Chicago immigration detention lawyer today to learn more.
