U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, was created in 2003 by the Homeland Security Act. It essentially enforces rules created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Its creation represents one of the largest reorganizations within the United States Government ever. Its function is to improve homeland security as well as public safety. They work to accomplish this goal by enforcing federal laws both criminally and civilly. ICE has the authority to influence laws that govern immigration, trade, border control as well as customs. Since its inception, it has grown significantly in personnel and power. ICE now has well over 400 offices and 20,000 employees of the agency. Though ICE was created with good intentions, its practices, to include ICE Detention, have torn apart families and been a source of many political debates. Currently, more than 50,000 people are in ICE detention. If you are at risk of being detained or know of someone who is, it is recommended that you connect with an experienced and reputable immigration attorney quickly.
There are a variety of reasons that an immigrant can be detained by ICE. However, the most typical reason is that the government is worried that a particular individual is a “flight risk” and should be detained to secure their appearance in Immigration Court. Some of the more common reasons for detaining an immigrant include:
If a friend or family member has been placed in ICE detention, it can be difficult to learn information about where they are being held and for what reasons. An experienced immigration attorney can help you to determine some of these factors and offer help in fighting for their freedom.
If you find out that someone who you know has been placed in ICE detention, you may be able to find their whereabouts on the ICE detainee locator site. You will need information to identify them like their birthdate, home country, full name, etc. Unfortunately, not all people are immediately taken to one of the federal facilities and may be held in local jails. If they are a minor, you may need to contact your local ICE office. If they are indeed in an ICE facility, you will need to contact their deportation officer to learn about how to call and/or visit them. Ensure that you do not reveal any additional information to the deportation officer when talking to them. An immigration attorney can help you to find them before they are deported or moved out of state.
Upon being detained in an ICE detention facility, each person is assigned a deportation officer. This officer can offer detainees various forms of release to include voluntary departure or removal with stipulations. However, it is imperative to have an experienced Immigration attorney to review any offers. Depending on the offer made, it may strip the detainee of any form of relief that they may have been entitled to before accepting the offer.
In theory, ICE detention facilities should be run similarly to correctional facilities. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many instances. There are no set standards and government oversight of these facilities is inconsistent. However, each person in detention has rights: medical attention (including mental health), ability to communicate via telephone, legal services free of charge, reading materials, etc. If you suspect that a detainee has not been cared for while in detention, contact an immigration attorney who can fight for their rights.
Typically a bond is set for detainees. This bond can be as low as $1,500 and can go as high as $20,000. The goal of the bond is to ensure that the person will return to court for their immigration proceedings. In some cases, bond is not available. This can be due to the detainee committing past crimes and having a record of failing to appear for court dates. If you believe that the bond is too high or the detainee should be eligible for release, you can request a bond hearing. Though it is possible to do this alone, it can be incredibly complicated.
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Caring and compassionate, Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez is a Florida immigration attorney dedicated to producing the results her clients need. She has over 17 years of experience helping both corporate and individual clients with an emphasis in employment/investment cases and family adjustment cases.
As the Managing Attorney at Florida Immigration Law Counsel, Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez and her team are capable of representing and helping individuals looking to attain a Family Visa, Work Visa, and Citizenship/Naturalization. Her experience successfully representing clients in front of the Department of Justice for cases involving Deportation/Removal Proceedings will lead to success in your case.
Her experience and expertise in immigration litigation has led to multiple Avvo awards and other accolades, including the Clients’ Choice for 2017 Immigration Attorney. Her clients also consistently post positive reviews on her Facebook page. Her experience has also allowed her to teach a new generation of lawyers as an adjunct professor of law at Nova Southeastern University, and she also regularly gives speeches on immigration matters.
Counselor Gonzalez is also experienced in helping corporate clients through the process of filing for Employment Visas, Labor Certifications, and Business and Investment Visas with the Department of Labor. She takes on the entire case from start to finish, simplifying the process for her clients and allowing them to focus on their business.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and Farsi – Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez is dedicated to making her clients feel comfortable and assured in making her their go-to immigration attorney in Florida. Her goal is to ensure that those who want to live the American dream have a professional fighting for them and making the process as painless as possible.
Saman’s passion for immigration law stems from her personal life as the daughter of immigrants. Her parents were recipients of the student F1 visa in 1971. Her father came into this country with the goal to improve his life and the life of his children. He earned a PhD in Civil Engineering and Business, instilling in his daughter a strong work ethic that she carries to this day. Saman saw firsthand what it means to be an immigrant and achieve the American Dream.
Saman Movassaghi Gonzalez can personally understand the struggle of immigrants and the children of immigrants navigating through the bureaucratic process of immigration law. Because of this, she dedicates herself fully and provides her personal attention to every case. She prides herself on developing a strong relationship with each and every client, and she is not afraid of pushing the envelope and looking for answers where other attorneys have failed.
Saman Movassaghi makes it her goal to provide you with only the best representation for immigration matters because she believes it’s time for you to live the American dream!
