The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office, or ICE, enforce various federal laws concerning border control, immigration, trade, and customs for the United States of America, in order to uphold homeland security and public safety. They do everything in their power to prevent threats and acts of terrorism, human trafficking, illegal trading, illegal importing and exporting, transnational crimes, and much more, all while focusing on smart immigration enforcement. ICE is an integral part of our country’s national security, and as U.S. citizens, we should be very grateful for their efforts. Continue reading to learn more about immigration court, and how non-citizens are informed of an indictment in the United States.

Illegal Immigrant Crimes

If the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office (ICE) suspects a non-citizen has committed an offense that makes them eligible for deportation, they notify the immigration court who will then issue a “Notice to Appear” (NTA). This is an official government document that formally requests a person’s presence in court (in this case, immigration court) in order to begin the removal proceedings against them.

This document is generally sent through postal mail to a person’s last known address or attorney, or hand-delivered by an immigrations officer. It contains the criminal allegations and charges against them, as well as, the time, date and location of their mandatory appearance before a judge. Their hearing is generally within 10 days of receiving the notice.

When a person arrives for court and appears before the immigration judge, the judge might detain the individual and then schedule a bond hearing to determine whether or not to release them later. Then the judge schedules a Master Calendar Hearing, generally the initial hearing in most immigration cases, to review the charges and evidence against them. At this hearing, the immigration judge will go on to then schedule an Individual Merits Hearing. During the Individual Merits Hearing, the government must prove the charges alleged in the NTA against the non-citizen defendant. The non-citizen defendant can refute these allegations with witnesses and testimony if they so choose. At the conclusion of this hearing, the immigration judge will decide if the foreign national should be removed from the country or not.

Indiana Criminal Defense

Call David E. Lewis, Attorney at Law, at 317-636-7514 to discuss your recent criminal charges in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a seasoned criminal defense lawyer that will fight to protect your rights and preserve your freedoms after being charged with a crime in Indiana. Our law firm offers free initial consultations for those charged with a misdemeanor or felony crime. We work around the clock to build a strong and impactful defense against your criminal allegations. Call 317-636-7514 to speak with a licensed criminal defense attorney in Indianapolis you can trust.