You received a Notice to Appear from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that states that you are in removal proceedings under section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. What do you do? Before I get into that, let’s discuss what you should not do . . . Do not fail to appear. Appear at the address specified in the Notice to Appear at the date and time stated. Do not ignore it. Do not panic. What you should do is to prepare carefully and strategically. If you live in Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island you have likely been commanded to appear the Immigration Court (also known as the EOIR -Executive Office for Immigration Review) at 26 Federal Plaza 12 Floor Room 1237 New York New York. Do you need a lawyer for immigration court in New York City? This is not like traffic court in NYC. Immigration law is very complex. It is policy driven and how laws and regulations are implemented can change daily. My opinion is that it would be foolish to proceed with your immigration deportation case in NYC without a lawyer. This is where your money would be wisely invested into you and your family’s future. This decision could very well make a world of a difference as to whether you get to remain in the U.S..
