IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS, DEFENDANTS ALIKE, AWAITING GOVERNMENT ACTION ON DEPORTATION SUSPENSIONS

Posted by: Phoenix Arizona Immigration Lawyers

“So when does Obama’s new immigration law go into effect,” asks a concerned client. Phoenix Immigration Attorney Darius Amiri has been seeing more and more questions such as these lately.

“The primary misconception is that there has been some kind of change in immigration law,” says Immigration Defense Lawyer Amiri, “but unfortunately, there hasn’t.” Mr. Amiri is referring to the August 18^th, 2011 Obama administration memorandum that announced a comprehensive review of the more than 300,000 pending deportation cases. During said review, cases deemed ‘low priority’ would be closed, suspending deportation for the time being. Low priority cases would include cases with no significant criminal history, strong family ties to the United States, and a long history of physical presence in the country, starting with an entry at an early age.

President Obama has been criticized for trying to implement the Dream Act, an immigration reform bill that has twice failed to reach consensus vote in Congress, through administrative policy instead of through popular vote. The Dream Act, if passed, would have allowed amnesty and a chance at legal permanent residence, and consequently citizenship, to those who entered the United States at an early age, lived continuously here since entry, demonstrated good moral character, and attended college or served in the military. The Dream Act was last introduced to the US Senate on June 22, 2011, but has yet to pass.

Attorney Amiri states, “while the words in the Obama Administration’s recent immigration memorandum are promising, they remain words for the time being. We have yet to see implementation.” An attorney at Phoenix law firm Alcock & Associates, Darius Amiri devotes almost all of his legal practice to immigration defense, litigating deportation cases in areas such as Phoenix, Eloy, and Florence, Arizona. “While in court the other day, I asked the TA (prosecutor), when defense attorneys could expect to see an exercise of prosecutorial discretion in immigration proceedings,” says Amiri. She responded that prosecutors have yet to receive guidelines from their supervisors at the Department of Homeland Security, adding, “I’ll let you know once we know…”

If you or someone you know is facing deportation or removal proceedings in Phoenix, Arizona, contact the offices of Alcock & Associates for a free consultation. Call 602-989-5000. Darius Amiri and other immigration and criminal defense attorneys are standing by.