Dallas Immigration Attorney Guide

Editorial From Dallas News .com

Local authorities around the country are taking the lead to tackle illegal immigration because our leaders in Washington have failed to devise a workable enforcement system. Federal deficiencies are so severe that public safety is being compromised, as a Houston Chronicle report showed this week.

Regardless of where you stand on comprehensive immigration reform, it’s hard not to be outraged by the failures the Chronicle exposed in Harris County’s jail system. Hundreds of illegal immigrant inmates charged with felony crimes – murder, rape, drug dealing and child molestation – were set free because Immigration and Customs Enforcement authorities didn’t complete the paperwork to hold them for deportation.

ICE, part of the Homeland Security Department, failed to process detention orders for roughly 2,600 jail inmates who admitted they were illegal immigrants. In 177 cases, inmates committed additional crimes after being released. Hundreds had three or more prior convictions.

ICE officials say they’re doing their best with limited resources, but we’ve heard that excuse before. A year ago, ICE officials were forced to temporarily curtail the Criminal Alien Program in Irving because their staff and facilities couldn’t cope with the number of illegal immigrants Irving police were detaining.

Dallas County announced last week that it would participate in a new federal database project that is even more comprehensive than Irving’s. With growing participation by local governments, the pressure on ICE is going to grow. But ICE says it would take years and up to $1 billion to bring a new screening system up to speed and ensure the most serious offenders are deported – not released.

The heated debate in Washington over comprehensive immigration reform no doubt will resume after the incoming Obama administration addresses other pressing issues such as the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ridding our cities of these most undesirable immigrants deserves top priority attention, too. Failing that, the Department of Homeland Security should consider a name change, because the criminals it is releasing onto our streets have no justification to be in this “homeland.” And when they roam free, the notion of security for Americans becomes laughable.

This latest new from Dallas Immigration.

By DIANNE SOLÍS / The Dallas Morning News
dsolis@dallasnews.com Arrests of illegal immigrants in North Texas increased 21 percent in the last fiscal year, according to federal immigration officials in Dallas.

More than 16,300 people were repatriated to their native countries, compared with 13,500 the previous fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security.

That pace matched the increase at the national level: 349,041 people were removed by ICE, compared with 288,663 the previous year.

For the nation, removals of illegal immigrants has doubled since 2004.

For the last two years, the federal government has stepped up its use of criminal law, rather than administrative law, in prosecuting immigrant workers in the U.S. illegally.

Last year, Congress failed to pass a comprehensive reform of immigration laws that would have legalized a portion of the estimated 11 million to 12 million people in the U.S. illegally.

It is unclear what measures the incoming presidential administration of Barack Obama will take, and when. But Mr. Obama has been critical of raids that divide families, has urged tougher enforcement of employers who hire illegal immigrants, and has spoken favorably of a legalization program with certain qualifications.

Dallas Immigration Attorney Guide

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When looking for a qualified immigration lawyer, there are certain things you should look for right away. The first one is that the lawyer is actually licensed to practice in a US jurisdiction and is in good standing with the State Bar. As odd as that may sound, it’s happened that immigrants have dealt with lawyers not licensed to practice in the US nor in good standing. You are going to spend good money, so make sure you find someone who will provide you with good service.

Choose an honest lawyer with integrity, a good reputation and one that is highly ethical. You can find this out by asking for references, and if they don’t give you references, go find another lawyer. Find out if the lawyer you are considering primarily practices immigration law. If their focus is criminal or divorce law, another attorney had better serve you. You need to make sure you Dallas Immigration Attorney specializes in what you need.

Although there is no specific requirement that immigration applications be prepared by a lawyer, attempting it on your own is a true recipe for disaster. Not unless you are very well versed, can you make sure tha you don’t make any mistakes. Each case is individual and different laws apply. Unless you know them all, your application will get bogged down in the system and you may not be successful. You not only need to know about Federal Law, but you also need to know about Local or State requirements.

While talking with the lawyer you’d like to help you with your immigration application or appeal, find out if they know their stuff and are familiar with your type of case. You’ll know this right away by the questions they ask you.

They should also give you a clear-cut answer on what it’s going to cost you to deal with them. And last, but not least, they should not give you a guarantee of success but simply indicate they will work for you and with you to do the best they can given the system. Make sure you ask good questions and make sure you follow up.