Nassau County Deportation Defense Lawyers

Last Updated on: 15th October 2025, 06:27 pm

Nassau County Deportation Defense Lawyers

Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second-generation law firm managed by Todd Spodek. We have over 50 years of combined experience defending Nassau County residents in deportation proceedings. Our immigration attorneys have represented thousands of clients at Immigration Court since 1976, fighting removal through asylum, cancellation, adjustment of status, and every available defense. You know our work – we represented Anna Delvey in the case that became a Netflix series.

If you’re facing deportation in Nassau County in 2025, you’re confronting unprecedented enforcement challenges. In February 2025, Nassau County announced its police officers would join ICE’s mass deportation effort, with County Executive Bruce Blakeman stating “We are going to cross-designate and embed Nassau County police detectives with ICE”. Ten detectives were given the power to arrest and jail people under deportation orders. The Nassau County Police Department signed a “task force” model 287(g) agreement giving deputized officers broad authority to question residents’ citizenship status and make arrests without a judicial warrant. Seven jails booked nearly 2,800 people arrested for immigration reasons in the first seven months of 2025, up from only 500 in all of 2024, with Nassau County joining as a detention location since February.

You need Nassau County deportation defense lawyers who know Immigration Court, who can fight 287(g) enforcement, who have won thousands of cases.

Nassau County 287(g) Agreement – 2025 Game Changer

Nassau County’s 287(g) agreement is the most expansive type of agreement with federal immigration authorities that Obama discontinued over a decade ago. This fundamentally changes deportation risk for Nassau County immigrants.

Key impacts:

Broad Authority – Deputized Nassau County police officers have authority to question residents’ citizenship status and make arrests without a judicial warrant.

Community Fear – Clients of the Central American Refugee Center have become afraid to report crimes, including domestic violence and child abuse, out of fear they may be detained by Nassau County police.

Detention Numbers – Over half of ICE detainees held in New York jails between January and July – and 62% in Nassau County – had no criminal charges or conviction.

Legal Challenge – Advocates and community groups filed a lawsuit claiming the partnership exceeds Nassau police’s authority under state law and allows discrimination against immigrant communities. The lawsuit is the first to challenge a 287(g) agreement in New York state.

Nassau County immigrant communities – in Hempstead, Freeport, Glen Cove, Westbury, throughout the county – face this unprecedented enforcement climate.

Our Nassau County deportation defense attorneys fight cases in this challenging environment. We understand 287(g) enforcement. We defend clients arrested by Nassau County police under ICE authority.

The Notice to Appear – How Deportation Begins

Deportation begins with Notice to Appear (NTA). DHS charges you with removability – typically entering without inspection, overstaying visa, criminal conviction. NTA lists charges, hearing date, court location.

Nassau County residents receive NTAs in various ways:

– After arrest by Nassau County police under 287(g) authority

– After ICE arrest at home or workplace

– In mail after denied immigration application

– After criminal conviction

– At ICE check-in

What to do when receiving NTA:

1. Hire deportation defense attorney immediately

2. Appear at all hearings (missing hearing = automatic removal order)

3. Don’t talk to ICE or Nassau County police without lawyer present

4. Gather evidence of U.S. ties (family, work, property, community)

5. Identify potential relief from removal

Our Nassau County deportation lawyers provide consultations for NTA recipients. We evaluate defenses, explain court process, appear at all hearings.

Defenses to Deportation for Nassau County Residents

Multiple defenses exist depending on your situation:

Asylum – If you fear persecution in home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or particular social group. Must apply within 1 year of arrival unless exception applies.

Cancellation of Removal (Non-LPRs) – For non-permanent residents who’ve been in U.S. 10+ years continuously, have good moral character, have qualifying U.S. citizen or LPR relative (spouse, parent, child) who would suffer exceptional and extremely unusual hardship if you’re removed. Only 4,000 granted nationwide annually. Extremely competitive.

Cancellation of Removal (LPRs) – For lawful permanent residents who’ve had green card 5+ years, resided in U.S. 7+ years, have no aggravated felony. Discretionary – judge weighs positive factors (family, work, rehabilitation) against negative (criminal history).

Adjustment of Status – If you have approved I-130 or I-140 and visa number current, can adjust status before immigration judge. Common for Nassau County residents with U.S. citizen spouses or approved family petitions.

Withholding of Removal – Higher standard than asylum (must prove more likely than not you’ll be persecuted), but no 1-year deadline. Available when asylum time-barred.

CAT Protection – Convention Against Torture protection if you’ll more likely than not be tortured in your country. Available even for people with serious criminal convictions.

Our Nassau County deportation defense attorneys evaluate every possible defense. We identify relief you qualify for, gather evidence, present winning cases to immigration judges.

Criminal Convictions and Nassau County Deportation Cases

Many Nassau County deportation cases involve criminal convictions. Certain convictions make you deportable:

– Aggravated felonies (broadly defined, includes many non-felonies)

– Crimes involving moral turpitude

– Controlled substance violations (even simple possession)

– Firearms offenses

– Domestic violence

– Fraud offenses

Criminal convictions don’t automatically mean deportation. Defenses exist:

Post-Conviction Relief – Vacating conviction, sentence modification, plea withdrawal. If conviction vacated for reasons other than immigration consequences, it may no longer be deportation ground.

Categorical Approach Analysis – Immigration judges apply “categorical approach” to determine if conviction matches immigration definition. Many convictions don’t qualify as aggravated felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude under this analysis.

Waivers – 212(h) waiver for crimes involving moral turpitude (if not aggravated felony). I-601 waiver for other grounds. Requires showing extreme hardship to qualifying U.S. citizen or LPR relative.

Our Nassau County deportation lawyers work with criminal attorneys to pursue post-conviction relief. We analyze convictions under categorical approach. We identify defenses prosecutors miss.

Bond Hearings – Fighting for Release from Nassau County Detention

Nassau County became a detention location starting February 2025. If Nassau County police or ICE detain you, immigration judge conducts bond hearing considering flight risk and danger to community.

Judge sets bond amount (typically $5,000-$25,000+) or denies bond.

If judge denies bond or sets excessive amount, you can appeal to BIA or file habeas corpus in federal court.

Our Nassau County deportation defense attorneys fight for bond release. We present evidence of community ties – family in Nassau County, employment, home ownership (Nassau County has high home ownership rates), church membership, community involvement – showing you’re not flight risk.

Immigration Court Hearings

Nassau County deportation proceedings involve hearings at Immigration Court:

Master Calendar Hearings – Short hearings (5-15 minutes) for scheduling. Judge confirms identity, advises of rights, provides list of free legal services, sets deadlines for applications, schedules individual hearing.

Individual Hearings – Full trial on removability and relief. DHS attorney presents evidence you’re removable. You present evidence of eligibility for relief. Witnesses testify. Documents submitted. Judge issues decision.

Individual hearings are trials. You need experienced deportation defense lawyers who know how to examine witnesses, submit evidence, make legal arguments.

Our Nassau County deportation attorneys try cases regularly. We know how to present asylum claims, cancellation applications, adjustment cases. We know what evidence judges require.

Nassau County Immigration Resources

CARECEN (Central American Refugee Center) offices in Hempstead and Brentwood provide deportation defense for unaccompanied minors and immigrants.

Nassau County Hispanic Foundation in Garden City provides immigration services.

These resources serve individuals who qualify for free services. Complex deportation cases involving criminal history, multiple applications, or 287(g) arrests require private counsel with extensive trial experience.

Our Nassau County deportation defense attorneys handle complex cases requiring extensive litigation and trial preparation.

Nassau County Deportation Defense Services We Provide

Immigration Court Representation – Master calendar hearings, individual hearings, bond hearings

Applications for Relief – Asylum, cancellation, adjustment, withholding, CAT

Criminal Immigration Defense – Post-conviction relief coordination, categorical approach analysis, waivers

287(g) Arrest Defense – Fighting Nassau County police immigration enforcement arrests

Bond Hearings – Fighting for release from Nassau County detention

Appeals – BIA appeals of removal orders

Stays of Removal – Emergency stays when deportation imminent

Federal Court Litigation – Habeas corpus petitions, federal appeals

Why Spodek Law Group for Nassau County Deportation Defense

We pride ourselves on having a rock star team of attorneys who have over 50 years of combined experience. We’ve defended thousands of Nassau County residents in deportation proceedings.

In 2022, Netflix released a series about one of Todd’s clients: Anna Delvey. Our firm has been featured on NY Post, Newsweek, Fox 5, Business Insider, Bloomberg, USA Today, and the New York Times.

We’re available 24/7. Our managing partner, Todd Spodek, is a seasoned attorney – who has many, many, years of experience. Regardless of how complicated your case is – we can help you.

Call Spodek Law Group today. Nassau County deportation defense requires understanding 287(g) enforcement and aggressive advocacy – you need the best Nassau County deportation defense lawyers fighting to keep you in the United States.