Whether you are an immigrant falsely accused of an offense or you are facing charges over a one-off mistake, you need to prepare for court and understand the potential impact of the case in terms of your ability to stay in the U.S. Every year, tens of thousands of immigrants face arrest for a variety of reasons and many of them face deportation from the country.
Even though these charges are often overwhelming, it is pivotal to focus on your case and review strategies to defend yourself. Unfortunately, some innocent people are no longer able to stay in the U.S. as a result of false allegations.
Reviewing data on immigrants and arrests
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s website, the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) unit took thousands of people into custody for different offenses during fiscal year 2019. During this period, ERO apprehended 45,000 people for assault and 67,000 for charges related to drug activity. In fiscal year 2019, ERO arrested 74,000 people for drunk driving, 10,000 for weapons violations and 12,000 for sex offenses.
Reviewing the impact of ERO arrests
When the Enforcement and Removal Operations unit takes immigrants into custody, they are sometimes detained and have to appear before an immigration judge. Depending on the outcome of the case, many have to leave the U.S. ICE reviews various factors when taking immigrants into custody, including their immigration history and criminal background. If you have concerns about your ability to stay in the U.S. as a result of pending charges or your background, prepare for your case accordingly.