UNITED STATES—Since January 20, 2025, many immigrants in the United States, both those who entered legally and those who did not, have worried legitimately about how to navigate immigration rules. Although immigrants have made up the majority of the country’s inhabitants since its founding, general dislike of immigrants has grown among certain populations in recent years. Additionally, the U.S. immigration system and associated laws and processes are extremely complex. Read on to learn more about why these factors make requesting help from a lawyer a wise decision…
What Do Statistics Reveal?
According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants with some form of legal representation typically experience more efficiency and have better outcomes than those who try to do everything on their own. Those with legal counsel are more likely to learn their rights and seek other forms of assistance and relief. They have a better chance of preventing detention and deportation as well.
For example, represented detained immigrants were twice as likely to seek and obtain some form of relief than those who didn’t procure representation (i.e., 49% versus 11%). Non-detained immigrants were five times more likely (i.e., 63% versus 13%).
Nationality also factored into the outcomes. Chinese immigrants had higher representation and lower detention rates than Mexican immigrants (92% and 4% versus 21% and 78%, respectively). As a result, people of certain nationalities face a higher risk of problems within the immigration system, especially when they fail to use the experience of an immigration lawyer to help them.
How Serious Is the Political Rhetoric?
The biggest current reason for an immigrant to hire a lawyer, no matter their status (i.e., seeking asylum, a student or work permit or permanent residency), is because no one knows at this point what might happen from minute to minute, hour to hour or day to day with the new government administration. The people currently in political power have made a seismic shift away from open borders and many forms of immigration.
Since Inauguration Day, asylum seekers have had their official appointments canceled on the CBP One app. Both legal and illegal immigrants have been detained by members of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other government agencies. Immigrants need to know what steps to take if they are detained. Some government agents have received daily quotas for detaining immigrants. Deportation flights have begun to many countries. Most recently, a judge had to stop an executive order ending birthright citizenship, which would have prevented new babies born of non-resident immigrants from becoming citizens.
Some people who are legally in the country and have all of their documentation have needed lawyers to prevent arrest and associated detention or deportation. Additionally, there are now people pretending to be ICE agents who have kidnapped and physically harmed immigrants.
At this point, any immigrant who lives, studies or works in the U.S. might face a sudden challenge to their temporary or permanent residency status, no matter their personal or work history or documentation. Some immigrants might face fast detention or deportation without due process or a hearing with an immigration judge because of the expedited removal program that allows ICE and other agents to perform raids in commonly protected public spaces.
The Top Ways a Lawyer Can Help
Many immigrants fail to realize they’re not afforded the same protections as citizens. They must seek counsel on their own. They’re not provided an attorney automatically under any law. An immigration lawyer can help them understand their legal rights, represent them in court, and make recommendations for procuring assistance and relief. A lawyer can prepare them for various standard legal immigration requirements by category and need based on their unique situation, such as help with visa or green card requirements.
Most importantly, a lawyer can help them navigate the stress and worry from the current political chaos that’s ending many processes and norms. They can provide life-saving legal representation during uncertain times.
