A large part of Puri Law's practice consists of representing clients who are in removal proceedings. Removal proceedings used to be called deportation proceedings. People with no legal immigration status as well as green card holders can be placed in removal proceedings for a variety of reasons.

Among the many grounds of deportability are having overstayed a non-immigrant visa, such as a tourist or student visa; having entered the U.S. illegally; having committed certain crimes such as those involving moral turpitude, controlled substances, or crimes of violence; having committed fraud to obtain an immigration benefit, as well as many others.

If you or a loved one is in removal proceedings, it is vitally important to seek out the skills of an experienced removal attorney. Government data show that 34% of all non-detained immigrants with attorneys won their cases in fiscal year 2003, compared with only 23% of those without an attorney. While an 11% difference in success rates might not seem like a lot, the number represents thousands of immigrants who lost their chance to remain in the United States.

Even many immigration attorneys do not regularly practice removal/deportation defense. If you find yourself facing the very serious situation of being in removal proceedings, you need to meet with an experienced removal defense attorney, like the attorney's at Puri Law, to see if you can be protected by any waivers or other forms of relief. The consequences of not asking enough questions and taking the time to find an attorney with whom you feel comfortable and confident can be life-changing for you and your family.

Another critical thing to remember is that unless you are a U.S. citizen, you should never plead guilty to a criminal offense without first consulting an immigration lawyer. There are often very serious immigration consequences for even very minor criminal convictions. It is important to have an experienced criminal immigration lawyer talk with your criminal attorney to discuss the immigration consequences of various plea options. For more information or to schedule a consultation with Puri Law contact us.