The problem - what actually happened
Life is difficult, and if you happen to have an immigrant involved in it it is even more challenging. Folks in America without documentation have a rough time of it. It's tricky to find employment. All of the time you're on the lookout, fearful of being arrested.
When you're an immigrant having no paperwork, every day troubles can take on much bigger dimensions. If you're in a car and you aren't being attentive, and suddenly you're aware of red and blue lights flashing in your mirror, there could be trouble ahead. If you happen to be going 40 mph in a 30 area and you have documentation, this interaction with the cops is going to be a quick speeding violation, as long as you have current insurance and registration. But without proper documents and not being able to speak English really well, what will happen then?
To tell my story, I was summoned to the nearby police station just after my significant other (SO) was pulled over in what really should have been a routine traffic stop. However, they detained him and carted him off to the local police station and immigration called. I finally got to have a word with the cop and was advised that immigration were talking to him. I imagined I'd be permitted to see him, but that was not the case. The next thing that I know is that he has been arrested.
When you're an immigrant having no paperwork, every day troubles can take on much bigger dimensions. If you're in a car and you aren't being attentive, and suddenly you're aware of red and blue lights flashing in your mirror, there could be trouble ahead. If you happen to be going 40 mph in a 30 area and you have documentation, this interaction with the cops is going to be a quick speeding violation, as long as you have current insurance and registration. But without proper documents and not being able to speak English really well, what will happen then?
To tell my story, I was summoned to the nearby police station just after my significant other (SO) was pulled over in what really should have been a routine traffic stop. However, they detained him and carted him off to the local police station and immigration called. I finally got to have a word with the cop and was advised that immigration were talking to him. I imagined I'd be permitted to see him, but that was not the case. The next thing that I know is that he has been arrested.
Immigration hell - my journey
I am writing this down after the event. He is gone now. I am beginning to make sense of how this type of situation comes about. I'm writing some points down, so that if you find this, because you've got the same predicament maybe, it shouldn't be such a mystery or blur to you. You'll know what to expect and have a few options which I did not have at the time but found later on.
At the start, I suppose it depends upon precisely how much cash you have to spare. If you haven't got any, in particular enough for an attorney, the initial thing you must do is attempt to locate the person who has been caught up in the confusing immigration system. I'm guessing the very first fact I figured out was that you have to know the exact names and words. If you find that you have, you'll be able to search for and discover things, but if you don't know, it can certainly get you in a spin. Firstly, I found that it is not immigration per se who arrests immigrants with no paperwork it is ICE. What is ICE I hear you ask? Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the DHS - (Department of Homeland Security).
When you are familiar with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), you can really progress. ICE offers a locator for detainees. Here's a direct link: ICE locator
At the start, I suppose it depends upon precisely how much cash you have to spare. If you haven't got any, in particular enough for an attorney, the initial thing you must do is attempt to locate the person who has been caught up in the confusing immigration system. I'm guessing the very first fact I figured out was that you have to know the exact names and words. If you find that you have, you'll be able to search for and discover things, but if you don't know, it can certainly get you in a spin. Firstly, I found that it is not immigration per se who arrests immigrants with no paperwork it is ICE. What is ICE I hear you ask? Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a division of the DHS - (Department of Homeland Security).
When you are familiar with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), you can really progress. ICE offers a locator for detainees. Here's a direct link: ICE locator
Specialist help
At this point we'll take a bit of a detour. I had a little bit of money. So, I thought it might be sensible to seek help from a specialist. Whenever you run into problems such as this your friends and relatives tell you horror stories galore, regarding things that they've discovered on the web. You do not know who to believe. Plenty of what people say simply doesn't add up it's just so contradictory and confusing.
My thoughts were when you're in big trouble, you need to speak to a legal professional. If a crime is involved, you would get a criminal defense lawyer. So in a case of immigration, it might be an immigration lawyer. I wasn't sure, I simply got onto Google. Where I am in Montana isn't known as a place with lots of immigrants, so I was not certain if I would get hold of an attorney here or I might need to find one in an area where immigrants are more common like maybe Florida or Texas or somewhere. |
Even So I discovered one on my doorstep in Billings. You can view his website here. This particular fellow offered me the chance of a consultation whereby he'd discuss just what would take place.
I decided to take him up on this offer. He seemed nice. He was pretty laid back and patient. He clearly explained everything to me. The reason why what happened took place. What might possibly happen next. And what he could do if I was prepared to shell out a bit of cash. He has some info on marrying an illegal immigrant here too that can possibly be a solution. Well, it all happened precisely the way he explained. So that's the reason why I am writing all of this down to make a story out of it, my own story. It should work out exactly the same for others, and you. However if it is not the same, it will likely be as near as dammit. |
Back to the main story
Getting back to the gist of my story and precisely what became of my significant other. When they are settled in prison it all gets worse and better I suppose; Better in that you can now chat with them (if you are able to accept collect calls from jail). Worse, I suppose, in the sense that you can hear dread in their voice therefore it is much harder to deal with uncertainties and just how your significant other may be struggling.
Immigration troubles in the past?
The lawyer told me that you must discover some stuff concerning immigration as well. Those with no papers get different treatment based upon if they have been in trouble before. If an immigrant hasn't had problems with immigration previously they will go before an immigration judge. But this doesn't suggest that they get bonded and get let out as in a criminal case. Rather, they transport the person to a location where the immigration judge will come to the jail to have a hearing with the immigrant.
If the individual in question has already had a hearing before and was deported from the United States before, they are treated differently. Such re-offending immigrants don't need an immigration judge's hearing. ICE puts into force something called reinstatement. I guess this is just a fancy way of saying that they re-issue the immigration (removal) order. So they simply deport them yet again.
If the individual in question has already had a hearing before and was deported from the United States before, they are treated differently. Such re-offending immigrants don't need an immigration judge's hearing. ICE puts into force something called reinstatement. I guess this is just a fancy way of saying that they re-issue the immigration (removal) order. So they simply deport them yet again.
The trip out of the US
Let me tell you my tale first, and my pal's next. My spouse had not ever had problems with the immigration department before. Therefore it was necessary for him to have a hearing. If you're picked up in our home State (Montana), the immigration hearing will undoubtedly be in The state of Washington. There's a major immigrant detention facility just outside of Tacoma. It is owned by a private company. ICE tends to use it because immigration judges from Seattle can go there for hearings.
So if you reside in Montana this is the place you find yourself, yet he definitely didn't arrive there immediately. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shifts immigrants very sluggishly. With my case, my other half was initially transferred to Great Falls and detained there. |
Next, he was moved to Boise Idaho. And from there to the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). You can find information regarding such things as parking and visiting hours for it here courtesy (a bit of gallows humor) of ICE.
When finally you find yourself in the NWDC, theoretically, you should be able to see a judge and request bond to get out of there. However this isn't simple to achieve by yourself. You are going to need a different attorney to assist you with the bond hearing. The first one that I spoke to, again here, presented me with a list of attorneys that specialize in serving those in Northwest Detention Center. If you are stuck and require this list maybe I can send it to you or otherwise you can always check with that lawyer. If you do not have any funds to spare there are some resources for immigrants that finish up in the NWDC. I also discovered these people, Northwest Immigrants Rights Project (NWIRP). They are not actually free immigration attorneys, but they do make it easier for you to help yourself. |
Bond relief - a way to get out
I found out to get bond you must be approved for some type of relief. That is fairly difficult. Although it should be said that you have to have a means of getting legalized really quickly if you are going to be successful. Here are a few examples that I discovered. Had I been actually married to my significant other, I could easily have applied to get him papers, and immigrant visa. My SO hailed from Mexico, nevertheless if you're from other places which don't actually work like in Central America you can explain to the immigration department you're petrified to go home and possibly you are eligible for something called asylum. That lawyer has also has info this option here. One strange type of relief I hadn't been aware of was when something bad has happened to you like you're a victim of crime. You might be able to put in for a visa in the event you assist the police in solving the crime.
Stipulated Removal
None of these worked in my case. Hence ultimately I found out that you can consent to being sent back home. ICE makes you sign a "Stipulated Removal Order" (as it's known). Once you sign that, they transport you home very quickly and you can then attempt to return to the United States legally. This is my situation now.
My friends journey - reinstatement
However, I promised I would tell you the story of my friend. Her SO had lived in America in the past, a thing that she discovered through immigration, ICE. He was detained in Montana as well. Though seemingly he already had a removal order from when he last got deported.
As I revealed, when you already have a deportation before, ICE need not obtain a whole new one. Instead of this they just utilize the old one. So if you're from Mexico for example, as with my friends spouse, they right away start taking you back again. Exactly like I was able to, she could easily observe her spouse's movements by way of the detainee locator.
He started heading southwards, first of all to Salt Lake City. I discovered this is where the ICE HQ for our region is. Yes, there certainly is an ice removal center in Helena Montana, and you're able to get some guidance from them. You will locate them on the net here. The info for the main Salt Lake office can be found here.
No-one spends much time in Salt Lake as immigration, ice I mean, run an additional major removal center in Florence AZ. That is usually the final step before being shipped out of the US. When you are simply passing through here, I do not think there is much that can be done. Nonetheless, when you find yourself being stuck in Florence, and perhaps there's a bit of that previously outlined relief, this might be the best place to get some assistance. I discovered the Florence Immigrant Project. It is just like the one in Tacoma helping offenders help themselves.
None of these worked in my case. Hence ultimately I found out that you can consent to being sent back home. ICE makes you sign a "Stipulated Removal Order" (as it's known). Once you sign that, they transport you home very quickly and you can then attempt to return to the United States legally. This is my situation now.
My friends journey - reinstatement
However, I promised I would tell you the story of my friend. Her SO had lived in America in the past, a thing that she discovered through immigration, ICE. He was detained in Montana as well. Though seemingly he already had a removal order from when he last got deported.
As I revealed, when you already have a deportation before, ICE need not obtain a whole new one. Instead of this they just utilize the old one. So if you're from Mexico for example, as with my friends spouse, they right away start taking you back again. Exactly like I was able to, she could easily observe her spouse's movements by way of the detainee locator.
He started heading southwards, first of all to Salt Lake City. I discovered this is where the ICE HQ for our region is. Yes, there certainly is an ice removal center in Helena Montana, and you're able to get some guidance from them. You will locate them on the net here. The info for the main Salt Lake office can be found here.
No-one spends much time in Salt Lake as immigration, ice I mean, run an additional major removal center in Florence AZ. That is usually the final step before being shipped out of the US. When you are simply passing through here, I do not think there is much that can be done. Nonetheless, when you find yourself being stuck in Florence, and perhaps there's a bit of that previously outlined relief, this might be the best place to get some assistance. I discovered the Florence Immigrant Project. It is just like the one in Tacoma helping offenders help themselves.
It isn't a good end
So that's my story. My sad experience with immigration law. Well I guess not mine really, but I've lived it, albeit vicariously. Now that I've lived through all of this, I sincerely wish I had seen something like this before the event, given that I've witnessed this same story repeated in other folk's lives, with different variations. I figure it is undoubtedly preferable to realize what is going to happen, or even what might happen, then you will avoid any big surprises.
Non-PC Immigrant joke
And so now you realize why that old immigrant joke on the Tonight Show hit the nail on the head. Perhaps you remember? Or perhaps somebody mentioned it. This was roughly it: how can you recognize the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles? They're the only ones who are sticking to the speed limit.
Non-PC Immigrant joke
And so now you realize why that old immigrant joke on the Tonight Show hit the nail on the head. Perhaps you remember? Or perhaps somebody mentioned it. This was roughly it: how can you recognize the illegal immigrants in Los Angeles? They're the only ones who are sticking to the speed limit.