Deportation Defense Lawyers

Last Updated on: 11th October 2025, 11:05 am

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 immigrants in removal proceedings. Our immigration attorneys have fought deportation cases since 1976, winning cases that other lawyers said were unwinnable. Many of the cases we’re famous for handling – are cases that others say were unwinnable. This is key to why clients choose us. You know our work – we represented Anna Delvey in the case that became a Netflix series, and we handled the Ghislaine Maxwell juror misconduct case.

If you’re facing deportation in 2025, you’re fighting for your life. Two million people have left the United States in less than 250 days – including 1.6 million who self-deported and over 400,000 who were deported by ICE. ICE is detaining between 51,000 and 60,000 people, with monthly deportations over 18,000. In 2025, nearly half of those detained and deported had no criminal record.

You need deportation defense lawyers who know how to win removal cases, who appear in immigration court regularly, who’ve gotten clients released from ICE detention.

Understanding Removal Proceedings in 2025

When ICE arrests you, they either place you in removal proceedings or use expedited removal to deport you without seeing a judge. On January 21, 2025, DHS expanded its use of expedited removal, putting more undocumented immigrants at risk of deportation without court hearings.

If you’re in removal proceedings, you’ll receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) listing the charges against you. The NTA tells you when and where to appear in immigration court. If you don’t appear, the judge issues a deportation order in absentia – and ICE can arrest and deport you at any time.

At your first hearing (Master Calendar Hearing), the judge asks if you admit or deny the charges. You tell the judge what relief you’re seeking – asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, etc. The judge sets a date for your Individual Hearing (the trial).

At the Individual Hearing, you present your case. You testify. You present witnesses. You submit evidence. The government’s attorney (ICE lawyer) argues you should be deported. The judge decides.

Our deportation defense lawyers appear in immigration court regularly. We know the judges. We know what relief you might qualify for. We know how to present your case to win.

Expedited Removal – Deported Without Seeing a Judge

Expedited removal allows the government to quickly deport someone without ever seeing a judge – unless the person says they’re afraid to return to their country and passes a fear screening interview. The January 21, 2025 expansion means more people are subject to expedited removal.

If you’re placed in expedited removal and you don’t express fear of returning to your country, ICE can deport you within days. Once you’re deported through expedited removal, you’re barred from returning to the U.S. for 5 years. If you return illegally after that, the bar increases to 20 years or permanent.

If ICE tries to use expedited removal on you, tell them you’re afraid to return to your country. Request a credible fear interview. That gets you in front of an asylum officer and potentially into regular removal proceedings where you can see a judge.

Defenses to Deportation – What Relief You Might Qualify For

Even if you’re deportable, you might qualify for relief that allows you to stay in the United States. Our deportation defense lawyers evaluate every possible defense:

Cancellation of Removal for LPRs – If you’re a green card holder, you might qualify if you’ve had your green card for 5+ years and haven’t been convicted of an aggravated felony.

Cancellation of Removal for Non-LPRs – If you’re undocumented but you’ve been in the U.S. for 10+ years, you have a qualifying relative (U.S. citizen or LPR spouse, parent, or child), and you can show exceptional and extremely unusual hardship, you might qualify.

Asylum – If you fled persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Adjustment of Status – If you have an approved family or employment petition and a visa number is available.

Withholding of Removal – Higher standard than asylum, but no discretion – if you prove you’ll more likely than not be persecuted, the judge must grant withholding.

Convention Against Torture (CAT) – If you’ll more likely than not be tortured if returned to your country.

Prosecutorial Discretion – Asking ICE to close or administratively close your case.

Termination – Getting your case terminated because the government didn’t prove deportability.

Getting Released from ICE Detention

If ICE arrested you and you’re sitting in detention, we file bond motions immediately. Immigration judges can set bond for most detainees (except those with certain criminal convictions or who are subject to mandatory detention).

Bond amounts range from $1,500 to $25,000 or more. The judge looks at whether you’re a flight risk or a danger to the community. We present evidence: family ties, employment, community ties, lack of criminal history, rehabilitation if you do have a record.

We’ve gotten clients released on bond when other lawyers said it was impossible. We know what judges look for. We know how to present your case for bond.

What Happens If You Lose Your Removal Case

If the immigration judge orders you deported, you have 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The BIA reviews the judge’s decision. If the BIA affirms, you can appeal to federal court (Circuit Court of Appeals).

Appeals take time – months or years. During the appeal, you’re usually allowed to stay in the U.S. (unless ICE re-detains you). If you lose the appeal, ICE schedules you for deportation.

Our immigration attorneys handle appeals regularly. We’ve won BIA appeals and federal court appeals. We know immigration law. We know how to spot errors judges make. We know how to argue your case should be reversed.

Deportation Defense Services We Provide

We handle every aspect of deportation defense:

Removal Proceedings – Representation in immigration court from NTA through Individual Hearing

Bond Hearings – Getting you released from ICE detention

Asylum in Removal Proceedings – Defensive asylum applications

Cancellation of Removal – For LPRs and non-LPRs

Adjustment of Status in Court – Filing I-485 while in removal proceedings

Appeals – BIA appeals and federal court appeals

Motions to Reopen/Reconsider – Asking the judge or BIA to reconsider a prior decision

Prosecutorial Discretion Requests – Asking ICE to close your case

Why Spodek Law Group for Deportation Defense

We pride ourselves on having a rock star team of attorneys who have over 50 years of combined experience. Our team includes former federal prosecutors who understand how the government builds deportation cases.

Unlike other law firms who are more focused on their relationship with prosecutors and judges, Spodek Law Group owes loyalty to only YOU. We are focused on our clients and getting them the best outcome possible.

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. Your life in the United States is on the line – you need the best deportation defense lawyers fighting for you.