DIASPORA LAW CAN HELP TODAY
Diaspora Law specializes in the defense of immigrants who have been detained and placed into removal and deportation proceedings. We can help! If you or a loved one has been detained or is being held in a Detention Facility and need legal representation, please contact our Immigration Attorneys and Legal Counselors at Diaspora Law: 1-800-919-9280
FAQ ABOUT BERKS FAMILY RESIDENTIAL CENTER:
Philadelphia Field Office
1040 Berks Road
Leesport, PA, 19533
WEBSITE: https://www.ice.gov/detention-facility/berks-family-residential-center
VISITING HOURS FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY:
All visitors must have an appointment. Appointments can be made by contacting a caseworker at (610) 396-0310, ext. 2360 or 2361, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week. If a visitor arrives who did not schedule an appointment, a decision will be made on a case by case basis as to whether the visit will be allowed. Visitation is conducted seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Visits may be for any length of time, but cannot interfere with programming (meals, medical, court, etc.).
- All visitors are required to enter the center through the main entrance, located directly across from the main parking lot in the front of the building.
- Adult visitors must present a valid, verifiable government-issued photo identification card to enter the center.
- Minors must be accompanied by an adult. At the discretion of management, a minor (under the age of 18) without positive identification may be admitted if the accompanying adult visitor vouches for his or her identity. Minors must remain under the direct supervision of the adult visitor at all times during the visit.
- Visitors must secure all personal belongings in their vehicle prior to entering the center. Residents are not permitted to accept any item from a visitor unless approved by Management beforehand.
- Visitors must wear appropriate and socially acceptable attire.
- All visits will be monitored.
- Any disruptive conduct by any party during a visit will result in the termination of the visit and may have an adverse effect on future visits.
VISITING HOURS FOR LAWYERS/ATTORNEY/LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES:
Legal representatives of residents are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours:
Legal visitation is conducted seven days a week between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Legal representatives must schedule an appointment and are required to submit visitation requests 72 hours in advance of their initial visit and at least 24 hours in advance of additional visits. Appointments can be made by contacting a caseworker at (610) 396-0310, ext. 2360 or 2361, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week. Pre-cleared legal visitors or attorneys will generally not be rejected if they do not provide 24 hour advanced notification; however, failing to provide notice may delay the visit based on time and or space limitations.
CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS AND INFORMATION:
Center Main Telephone Line: (610) 396-0310
Field Office Main Telephone Line: (215) 656-7162
If you need information about a detainee that is housed at this facility, you may call (610) 816-0743 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. When you call, please have the individual’s biographical information ready, including first, last and hyphenated names, any aliases he or she may use, date of birth and country of birth.
Detainees cannot receive incoming calls. If you need to get in touch with a resident to leave an urgent message, you must call (610) 816-0743 and leave the resident’s full name, alien registration number and your name and telephone number where you can be reached. The resident will be given your message.
OPPORTUNITIES AND STRATEGIES FOR DEFENSE
Diaspora Law can use several strategies to defend against deportation and bring your loved one home.
Cancellation of Removal for a Non-Legal Permanent Resident, or an EOIR-42B – An immigrant in removal proceedings can become a lawful permanent resident, and have their proceedings canceled if they meet three criteria.
(1) The individual has been physically present in the U.S. for at least 10 years before their Immigration Court proceedings began;
(2) The individual has been of good moral character for 10 years; and
(3) That a citizen of the United States or legal permanent resident child, spouse, or parent will suffer extreme and exceptionally unusual hardship if the individual is removed from the United States
Adjustment of Status, or AOS– An application for permanent residency based on an approved immigrant visa, whether family or employment based, may be a viable defense against deportation.
Removal of Conditional Residence (Form I-751) – If a conditional permanent resident does not timely file a Form I-751 to remove the condition on their residence, or it is denied, they may be subject to removal proceedings. A renewed petition can be a tool for convincing a judge to prevent a judge from removing your loved one. We can assist with this petition.
Criminal and Non-Criminal Waivers – You may not be deportable even if you have a criminal past. Criminal waivers – such as 212(c), 212(h) and EOIR-42A Cancellation of Removal for Legal Permanent Residents to many permanent residents.
Non-citizens can often obtain different Visas – such as a U visa, green card or an employment visa with a waiver for past “bad acts” that might make someone “inadmissible.” We can help prepare these sensitive defenses and the necessary paperwork. This includes the I-601A waiver that may require to recalendar or terminate deportation proceeding from a Motion for Administrative Closure.
Motions To The Court – Diaspora Law always works with the government and their attorneys to ensure the best possible result for our clients. Often requesting a government attorney to use their prosecutorial discretion to close or terminate removal proceedings is sufficient. When a case is closed, we can even help to secure work authorization for the former detainee.
When prosecutorial discretion is unavailable, several motions are nonetheless. Where the charges on a Notice to Appear are incorrect a Motion to Terminate can end proceedings smoothly. Where a client has been detained by ICE or in violation of constitutional due process a Motion to Suppress damaging evidence can terminate proceedings as well.
Exceptions to Deportation – Many non-citizens have protections under United States law if they fit into one of several protected groups, you have likely heard of many of the laws that provide these protections.
DACA, or Deferred Action for Certain Childhood Arrivals is available for children who were brought to the United States, have attended school in the United States and have not left the United States for an extended period.
TPS, or Temporary Protected Status is available for people from countries that the United States has deemed unsafe to return. Citizens from El Salvador, Honduras or Venezuela, for example, have had TPS status.
NACARA, or the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act can assist in preventing the deportation of certain people, and their dependents, if the are nationals from Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador or from a former Soviet bloc country.
Asylum is available for people who have been persecuted against or fear they will suffer from persecution because they are of a race, religion, nationality, or a member of a particular social group (being homosexual for instance), or due to political opinion. These requirements can be complicated, and we can help prepare your defense.
VAWA, or the Violence Against Women Act is available for victims of abuse or crime, most often domestic violence from a legal permanent resident or aUnited States citizen, to terminate deportation proceedings for themselves and their dependents. Where an abuser is not a legal permanent resident or United States citizen, a U Visa may be available for the victim and dependents instead.
Voluntary Departure – Where an individual no longer wishes to remain in the United States or would like to return on a legitimate visa, later on, voluntary departure may be the best option, rather than continue through Immigration Court.
DIASPORA LAW CAN HELP TODAY
Diaspora Law specializes in the defense of immigrants who have been detained and placed into removal and deportation proceedings. We can help! If you or a loved one has been detained or is being held in a Detention Facility and need legal representation, please contact our Immigration Attorneys and Legal Counselors at Diaspora Law: 1-800-919-9280
