On February 17, the Big Apple New Immigrant Center and the New York Dong Hua Association invited a senior immigration lawyer to conduct a seminar on immigration law, providing professional answers to popular issues of community concern.
Recently, individuals with deportation orders, especially fear Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Lawyer Edward Cuccia explained that the final deportation order is issued by an immigration judge after the individual’s case in court has been denied and appeals have been exhausted. In such cases, individuals “cannot continue to appeal legally, making them more vulnerable and at risk of being deported to their home country.”
The second category includes individuals with criminal records, who may be targeted regardless of whether they have a green card. Even minor criminal records, such as theft from 30 years ago, can put individuals at risk. However, individuals who have held a green card for 30 years and have no criminal history or arrests can rest assured.
Another group of people are those who have been in the United States for decades without obtaining legal status and without any criminal records. The lawyer mentioned that there are tens of millions of such individuals in the United States. If these individuals are detained, “they have a right to request to see an immigration judge.” Due to the backlog of immigration court cases, it may take several years for these cases to be processed, allowing individuals to transition from illegal to legal status in the United States.
During the seminar, attendees actively asked questions, and City Councilman Christopher Marte showed his support by attending the event. He praised the seminar, believing that such events meet the needs of immigrants.
Overall, the seminar provided crucial information and support to the immigrant community, offering guidance on navigating complex legal processes and understanding their rights. It served as a platform for education and empowerment, ensuring that immigrants are equipped with knowledge to protect themselves and their families in challenging times.