Author: lfsuser
Part 5: The Decision and Beyond: Navigating BIA Appeals and the Federal Courts
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters Your Individual Calendar Hearing has concluded. The testimonies have been delivered, the evidence examined, and the immigration judge has rendered a final decision on your application for relief. What happens next? At Cohen, Tucker + Ades, we prepare every client […]
Read MorePart 4: Evidence and Credibility: Building a Winning Case in Immigration Court
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters When you stand before an immigration judge at your Individual Calendar Hearing, your entire future in the United States rests on two core pillars: evidence and credibility. In an immigration system heavily backlogged with complex cases, judges do not make […]
Read MorePart 3: Defenses Against Deportation: Understanding Your Options for Relief in Immigration Court
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters When you are placed in removal proceedings, the government’s goal is to prove you are deportable. However, the law provides multiple pathways—known legally as “relief from removal”—that allow you to defend yourself, stop deportation, and in many cases, secure a […]
Read MorePart 2: Master Calendar vs. Individual Hearings: Navigating the Two Stages of Immigration Court
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters If you have received a Notice to Appear (NTA), your case is officially under the jurisdiction of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)—the U.S. immigration court system. For many individuals facing removal proceedings, the court process can feel like […]
Read MorePart 1: Demystifying the Notice to Appear (NTA): Your First Step in Understanding Removal Proceedings
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters Receiving a document from the United States government stating that you are subject to deportation is an incredibly stressful experience. For many immigrants, holding a Notice to Appear (NTA) feels like the end of their American dream. At Cohen, Tucker […]
Read MoreHow to Choose a Deportation Lawyer for Removal Proceedings
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters Quick Summary: Choosing a Removal Defense Attorney To select the right attorney for immigration removal proceedings, look for a licensed practitioner who specializes in immigration litigation, offers a transparent and candid case assessment, communicates in your native language, and possesses […]
Read MoreDHS Announces Intense ICE Crackdown on “Fraudulent Asylum Claims”: What It Means for Applicants and Attorneys
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters On May 26, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a sweeping new directive instructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aggressively target what it characterizes as “fraudulent asylum claims.” Issued by DHS General Counsel James Percival, this […]
Read MoreNavigating the New USCIS Adjustment of Status Policy: Is Your Green Card at Risk?
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters TL;DR: What is the new USCIS Adjustment of Status policy? On May 22, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-620-1099, drastically altering how Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) applications are reviewed. USCIS now explicitly defines adjustment of status as an “extraordinary […]
Read MoreWhy USCIS Policy Memo PM-602-0199 Is Facing an Imminent Federal Court Challenge
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters Following the recent release of USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199, panic has rippled through the immigration community. By reframing Adjustment of Status (AOS) as an “extraordinary form of relief” and declaring that applicants should generally be forced into consular processing abroad, […]
Read MoreUSCIS Issues Major Reminder: Adjustment of Status is “Extraordinary Relief,” Not an Automatic Right
By Wendy R. Barlow, Esq. | Partner at Cohen, Tucker + Ades Specializing in Complex Immigration Matters A newly released policy memorandum from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) serves as a critical reminder to immigrants, practitioners, and adjudicators alike: Adjustment of Status (AOS) is a matter of administrative grace and discretion, not an entitlement. The memorandum […]
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