Removal proceedings, explained
From the Notice to Appear to the Decision, and What Can Stop It
California's immigration courts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego carry roughly 137,000 pending cases combined, with Los Angeles alone near 95,000. Detained cases are heard on separate dockets at Adelanto and Otay Mesa.
The Notice to Appear
The charging document that starts removal proceedings. It lists the allegations and the charge; every line is checked against the record, and defective notices are grounds to terminate.
The master calendar hearing
A short first hearing where the judge confirms the charges, sets deadlines, and schedules the next date. Never miss it: an absence produces a removal order.
Motions to terminate
When the allegations are wrong, the notice is defective, or status was never lost, we ask the judge to end the case before it reaches a merits hearing.
Relief from removal
Cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding, adjustment of status through a family member, waivers, and voluntary departure as a last resort. The record decides which apply.
The individual hearing
The trial on the merits: testimony, evidence, cross-examination, and a decision. Preparation of the client and the witnesses is most of the work.
Appeals and motions to reopen
Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 days; petitions for review in federal court; motions to reopen for new evidence, defective notice, or changed law, even years later.
