DocA
I have been a lawful permanent resident for more than 25 years.
In the year 2013 I represented myself against a charge of abandonment of residence in Immigration Court. After considering the facts and the circumstances and upon a joint motion the honorable judge ordered the proceedings terminated.
I had collated and presented some 825 pages in support of my contention and I believe that this (by the grace of God) obsession with detail to be the difference between success and failure. I had worked very long hours, often until past midnight, in the three principal law libraries of Washington DC.
I had consultations initially with some of the eminent immigrations lawyers in DC where the fee was $300 plus just to get past the secretary. They looked at my charge sheet and ninety five per cent of them said that I should just pack my bags and request the judge to release me from the custody of the court. That left me unbelievably despondent but I was not prepared to throw in the towel.
The one lawyer who was prepared to take on my case for $50,000 was condescending and I felt that it would be a battle to work with him. So after beginning to educate myself on the law of abandonment, I effectively condensed a (immigration) law degree in 6 months ending with representing myself.
Of note, America now spends more money on immigration enforcement than on all other main federal law-enforcement agencies combined. It is hard to find many areas where the federal government is so effective in implementing laws passed by Congress
More than half of all federal prosecutions are now for immigration related offenses. Some 1.1m people are somewhere on the docket: that is nearly 5,000 immigrant cases per Judge. That is why it took over a year before I had my day in court and that too I had fast tracked. I could have effectively languished in the system for more than 5 years depending upon the appeals process.
Please note, as a cautionary tale, even the Immigration Judge remarked that I was one of the few fortunate people to win a case without legal representation. It is a rare occurrence but you have to be dogmatic and have an incredible self-believe in the waxing and waning immigration system.
Finally, as an alien in the US I may have multiple residences worldwide but the US must be my permanent residence.
Maintaining my lawful permanent resident status and prevailing with the emigration of my wife and infant son from Europe.
In the year 2013 I represented myself against a charge of abandonment of residence in Immigration Court. After considering the facts and the circumstances and upon a joint motion the honorable judge ordered the proceedings terminated.
I had collated and presented some 825 pages in support of my contention and I believe that this (by the grace of God) obsession with detail to be the difference between success and failure. I had worked very long hours, often until past midnight, in the three principal law libraries of Washington DC.
I had consultations initially with some of the eminent immigrations lawyers in DC where the fee was $300 plus just to get past the secretary. They looked at my charge sheet and ninety five per cent of them said that I should just pack my bags and request the judge to release me from the custody of the court. That left me unbelievably despondent but I was not prepared to throw in the towel.
The one lawyer who was prepared to take on my case for $50,000 was condescending and I felt that it would be a battle to work with him. So after beginning to educate myself on the law of abandonment, I effectively condensed a (immigration) law degree in 6 months ending with representing myself.
Of note, America now spends more money on immigration enforcement than on all other main federal law-enforcement agencies combined. It is hard to find many areas where the federal government is so effective in implementing laws passed by Congress
More than half of all federal prosecutions are now for immigration related offenses. Some 1.1m people are somewhere on the docket: that is nearly 5,000 immigrant cases per Judge. That is why it took over a year before I had my day in court and that too I had fast tracked. I could have effectively languished in the system for more than 5 years depending upon the appeals process.
Please note, as a cautionary tale, even the Immigration Judge remarked that I was one of the few fortunate people to win a case without legal representation. It is a rare occurrence but you have to be dogmatic and have an incredible self-believe in the waxing and waning immigration system.
Finally, as an alien in the US I may have multiple residences worldwide but the US must be my permanent residence.
Maintaining my lawful permanent resident status and prevailing with the emigration of my wife and infant son from Europe.
- Location
- Washington DC
- Occupation
- Doctor