When a family member is detained, two things matter most: speed and preparation. I move quickly to establish eligibility for release and to present the strongest possible case for bond or parole: family ties, community roots, employment, and everything that answers the government’s flight-risk and danger arguments before they are made.

Some cases get stuck. People are being held for many months, sometimes more than a year, without a bond hearing, particularly where the government treats an arrest near the border as disqualifying. In some prolonged-detention situations, a petition for habeas corpus in federal district court may be available to ask a judge to review whether continued detention without a hearing is lawful. Be clear-eyed about this: whether and when the Constitution requires a bond hearing in prolonged detention is an unsettled question, the answer varies by federal circuit, and the law where the person is actually detained controls. A habeas petition is an option to be evaluated by counsel on the specific facts, not a standard remedy anyone can count on.

What families can always do is prepare. Gather the basics now: the A-number, the facility, the procedural history, and any criminal records. Detained cases move fast when they move at all, and preparation is the one variable you control.

If a loved one is detained, gather the A-number, the facility, and the procedural history, then call or text 512.761.8479. Detained cases reward the family that arrives prepared.

A Notice to Appear is the charging document that begins removal proceedings against you in immigration court. It is serious and time-sensitive, but it is not a verdict. Receiving one does not mean your case is hopeless. What it means is that the timeline now matters enormously, and the single most important thing you can do is get experienced counsel before your first hearing.

Never miss a hearing. A missed hearing can lead to a removal order entered in your absence, and can carry additional penalties that make everything that follows harder.

Depending on your history and family ties, potential defenses and forms of relief include asylum and related protection, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, waivers, voluntary departure, and challenges to the government’s charges themselves. And if a removal order has already been entered, options may still exist, such as a motion to reopen or reconsider, or an appeal, though the deadlines are strict and unforgiving. I have handled appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals and the federal circuit courts. The sooner you reach out, the more options you are likely to have.

If you or a family member has received a Notice to Appear, get counsel before the first hearing. Call or text 512.761.8479.