What to Expect at Los Angeles Immigration Court

The Los Angeles Immigration Court handles thousands of removal cases a year. It is located downtown and is administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), a branch of the Department of Justice. Understanding how the court works, what happens at each hearing, who is in the room, and what is expected of you, can make an enormously stressful situation a little more manageable.

The process typically begins when you receive a Notice to Appear (NTA). This is the charging document that initiates removal proceedings. The NTA lists the government's allegations against you (such as entering without inspection or overstaying a visa) and the legal basis for removing you. It may or may not have a hearing date on it, in recent years, many NTAs are issued without a date, and you receive a separate notice later with your court date.

Your first hearing is typically the master calendar hearing. This is a short, administrative hearing, usually 15 minutes or less, in a large courtroom where many cases are called in sequence. The purpose is to set dates, identify what issues are contested, and determine what form of relief (if any) you intend to pursue. You may have multiple master calendar hearings before getting a date for your full hearing.

Your full hearing is called the individual (or merits) hearing. This is where your case is actually decided. It is usually in a smaller courtroom with just you, your attorney, the government attorney (from DHS/ICE), an interpreter, and the immigration judge. You will give testimony under oath, your attorney will present your evidence, the government attorney will cross-examine you, and the judge will ask questions. This hearing can last one hour or an entire day depending on the complexity of your case.

After the hearing, the judge either issues a decision on the spot or takes the case under advisement and issues a written decision later. If you win, you may receive a grant of your requested relief, asylum, cancellation of removal, withholding, or another form. If you lose, the judge issues a removal order. Either party, you or the government, can appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) within 30 days.

Interpretation is provided at all hearings. If you do not speak English, an interpreter will be there to translate. However, you are responsible for being on time and prepared. Courts are very strict about missing hearings, even one missed date can result in an automatic removal order.

Dress professionally. Bring all required documents your attorney tells you to bring. Arrive early, the court has a security screening process and lines can be long. If you have an attorney, follow their instructions carefully. If you do not have an attorney, the judge must advise you of the right to seek representation, but the court cannot provide one for you.

At Gracie Johnson Law in Compton, we represent clients at every stage of removal proceedings before the Los Angeles Immigration Court. We prepare our clients thoroughly so they know exactly what to expect. If you have an immigration court date and need representation, call us at (310) 554-4630.