If you, your spouse, your child, or your parent has received a Notice to Appear, has been detained by ICE, or has a final removal order, time is critical. This guide explains how removal proceedings work in Los Angeles, what to do at each stage, and the defenses that may save your case.
1. What a Notice to Appear (NTA) Means
A Notice to Appear is the document that starts removal proceedings against you. It identifies the immigration charges the government is bringing, lists the alleged facts, and orders you to appear at the Los Angeles Immigration Court (606 S Olive St, 15th Floor, downtown LA).
Receiving an NTA does not mean you will be deported. It means the government is asking the court to deport you. With the right defense, many people in removal proceedings stay in the United States lawfully.
Read the date on the NTA carefully. Missing your hearing results in an in-absentia order of removal, which is much harder to undo than fighting the case from the start.
2. If You or a Family Member Is Detained by ICE
Most South LA detainees are taken to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. The first goal is a bond hearing, where an immigration judge can release the person on bond pending removal proceedings.
To prepare for a bond hearing, gather the following: proof of community ties (lease, utility bills, family birth certificates), letters from family and employers, proof that the person is not a flight risk and not a danger to the community, and any criminal history with the actual disposition (arrest is not the same as conviction).
Call our office the day a family member is detained. Bond decisions move quickly and the first 72 hours matter.
3. Common Defenses to Removal
Cancellation of removal for non-permanent residents (10-year cancellation) requires 10 years of continuous physical presence, good moral character during that time, no disqualifying criminal record, and proof that removal would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a US citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or child.
Asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture are available to people who fear persecution or torture in their home country.
Adjustment of status in court may be available if you have an approved I-130 from a US citizen spouse or parent and meet other requirements.
Voluntary departure preserves your ability to return to the United States legally in the future and avoids the harshest consequences of a removal order.
4. What to Expect at the Los Angeles Immigration Court
The Los Angeles Immigration Court is at 606 S Olive Street, on the 15th floor. Master calendar hearings are short status conferences, where the judge confirms charges, sets pleadings, and schedules the case forward. Individual merits hearings are the actual trial of your case, where you present witnesses, evidence, and legal argument.
Always arrive at least 30 minutes early. Court security takes time. Bring a government photo ID, copies of every paper filed in your case, and an interpreter only if the court has not arranged one for your language.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a deportation order be reopened?
Sometimes yes. A motion to reopen can succeed when there is new material evidence, a change in country conditions for asylum cases, ineffective assistance from a previous attorney, or other limited grounds. Deadlines apply, so consult an attorney quickly.
Is there a bond for everyone in immigration detention?
No. People in mandatory detention (certain criminal grounds, certain expedited removal cases) are not eligible for bond. An attorney can quickly determine whether your family member qualifies for a bond hearing and how to prepare.
Ready to talk about your case?
Schedule an initial consultation with attorney Gracie Johnson at our Compton office.