Category: immigration attorney

ISAP Monitoring Rules: What Counts as a Violation and How to Fix It

Immigration attorney Karen Monrreal, Esq. consulting with a Latino couple in a professional office about ISAP monitoring rules, SmartLINK phone check-ins, and how to fix GPS monitoring violations.

At a glance (120 words): ISAP is ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program. It can use SmartLINK phone check-ins, voice ID calls, in-person visits, curfews, or GPS ankle monitors. A “violation” usually means missed or late check-ins, ignored calls or app prompts, travel outside permitted areas, address or phone changes not reported, device tampering or dead […]

I-751 Removal of Conditions: Evidence That Works (and What Triggers RFEs)

Immigration attorney Karen Monrreal, Esq., who closely resembles the provided image, sits in a modern, professional office at a conference table, speaking with a casually dressed Latino couple about the I-751 process to remove conditions on a green card. The office features diplomas on the wall and an American flag.

At a glance (120 words): If you received a 2-year marriage green card, you must remove conditions with Form I-751 to keep permanent residence. File in the 90-day window before the card expires, or file anytime after if you qualify for a waiver of the joint filing requirement. USCIS wants proof that your marriage was […]

ICE Detainers vs Warrants: Your Rights After an Arrest

Immigration attorney Karen Monrreal, dressed professionally, stands before a judge in a large, formal, and ornate courtroom, presenting arguments.

At a glance (120 words): An ICE detainer is a request from ICE to a local jail to hold a person for up to 48 hours after the jail release time so ICE can take custody. A detainer is not a judicial order and does not by itself require a jail to keep you. A […]

After an ICE Arrest: First 72 Hours

A distraught adult woman reads a document while an adult man talks on a phone, looking distressed. In the blurred background, two other adults embrace, conveying worry and comfort after an ICE arrest.

At a glance (120 words): The first three days set the tone. Confirm where the person is, who holds custody, and whether bond or parole is possible. Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator with the A-Number or name, country of birth, and date of birth. Call the ERO field office to verify location and reporting […]

ICE Home Visits: Your Rights at the Door

A group of ICE agents wearing "POLICE ICE" jackets and tactical vests stand outside a brown door on a brick building in an urban setting. One agent is at the door, another stands nearby, and a third is further down the sidewalk.

At a glance (120 words): If ICE knocks, you have rights. You do not have to open the door. Ask the officer to slip any warrant under the door or hold it up to a window. Look for a judicial warrant signed by a judge. An administrative warrant, such as Form I-200 or I-205, does […]

Criminal Records & Immigration: Do Expungements Help?

Immigration attorney reviews a criminal court file with a client at a law office table; fingerprint sheet and manila folders visible, law books in the background.

At a glance (120 words): In immigration law, a state “expungement” or record-sealing usually does not erase a conviction’s consequences. Under federal immigration rules, a “conviction” exists if there was a guilty plea (or similar admission) and any form of punishment, penalty, or restraint—even when a state later dismisses or expunges the case for rehabilitation. […]

ICE Check-Ins & Supervision (ISAP): What to Expect and How to Prepare

Nighttime ICE enforcement scene with officers in “POLICE ICE” vests overseeing a line of detainees boarding a bus, blue and amber lights in the background.

ICE Check-Ins & Supervision (ISAP): What to Expect and How to Prepare At a glance (120 words): Many people released from immigration custody must complete regular check-ins with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) or participate in Alternatives to Detention (ATD), most commonly the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). Check-ins may be in person, by […]

Motions to Reopen or Reconsider: Fixing Old Removal Orders

Karen Monrreal discussing Fixing Old Removal Orders with clients

Motions to Reopen or Reconsider: Fixing Old Removal Orders At a glance (120 words): If you or a loved one has an old removal (deportation) order, you may still have options. Two powerful tools are Motions to Reopen and Motions to Reconsider. A motion to reopen asks the court to look at new, material evidence […]

Post-Deportation Options: Legal Avenues for Returning to the U.S.

Karen Monrreal, Esq., a professionally dressed immigration attorney with long dark hair, sits at a large wooden desk in her office, actively speaking to two casually dressed Latino clients. The office features diplomas on the wall and an American flag, with a whiteboard in the background listing 'Post-Deportation Options: Form I-212, Waiver, Parole'

Post-Deportation Options: Legal Avenues for Returning to the U.S. At a Glance (120 words): A past removal or deportation does not always end your path back to the United States. Most people need permission to reapply for admission (Form I-212). Depending on your situation, you may also need a separate waiver such as I-601 (for […]

Understanding Immigration Waivers: Overcoming Inadmissibility

A Latina immigration attorney in a black blazer reviews immigration waiver forms with a couple in a Reno law office, legal books in the background.

Understanding Immigration Waivers: Overcoming Inadmissibility TL;DR: If you were found inadmissible, you may still qualify for an immigration waiver such as I-601, I-601A, I-212, 212(h), 212(i), 212(d)(3), or a J-1 212(e) waiver. Each targets a different problem, from unlawful presence to misrepresentation or certain criminal grounds. Most family waivers require proving extreme hardship to a […]