If you are a foreign national who has been detained by US immigration officers and removal proceedings have been brought against you, then you may be subject to a number of different hearings.
What is a Master Calendar Hearing?
The Master Calendar Hearing is an initial hearing during which the Immigration Judge (and a government attorney) will allow you to verify the charges that have been brought against you and admit or deny such charges. You will then be allowed to notify the judge as to the various forms of relief of which you are attempting to take advantage, such as asylum or withholding of removal. Finally, a schedule will be set for your case, and deadlines will be established for various applications that you may be attempting to file. If extensions are desired, then you may request them during the Master Calendar Hearing.
Given the procedural complexities involved in a Master Calendar Hearing, it’s critical that you consult a qualified immigration attorney who can guide you along the process and ensure that your interests are properly represented before, during, and after the hearing. At Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates, we are compassionate and thorough representatives who routinely guide clients through the challenging removal process and have helped many clients avoid an unfavorable result.
What is a Bond Hearing?
If you are not eligible to be released on bond, then you will be detained until your immigration case is complete. This lengthy process can put significant strain on families, and on various other interests that you may have. A Bond Hearing is essentially a hearing (presided over by an Immigration Judge) to determine whether you are eligible to be released on bond.
The Immigration Judge has full discretion whether to grant bond or deny bond. In making the decision to grant or deny bond, the judge will have to consider the weight of the evidence and determine whether you present a risk (flight risk, security risk, etc.). For example, if you were detained after threatening an innocent person in the street, then the court may consider you too dangerous and may choose to keep you detained.
In fact, even if there is no evidence weighing against you, the judge may simply choose to deny bond. Effective advocacy therefore requires skilled and persuasive argument before the Immigration Judge.
Interactions
Your Bond Hearing will typically occur before your Master Calendar Hearing, and oftentimes on the same day (before the Master Calendar Hearing). It’s important to note, however, that despite this closeness in timing, there is no significant connection between your Bond Hearing and your Master Calendar Hearing.
Questions? Contact Willy, Nanayakkara & Associates for a Confidential Consultation
If you’d like to learn more about how our attorneys can assist you during the deportation process, then we encourage you to get in touch as soon as possible. Please call 888-529-5990 or request an appointment online to speak with one of our experienced immigration attorneys today.
