Motion to Stay, Motion to Reopen with BIA to Apply for Adjustment of Status, Jail Release Approvals for Indonesian Client in Cleveland Ohio

CASE: Motion to Stay / Motion to Reopen / Jail Release
CLIENT: Indonesian
LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client came to the United States with a valid B-2 visa from Indonesia in March 2003. He later filed for asylum but was denied by the Immigration Judge in May 2010. Our client subsequently filed a timely appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), but the BIA also dismissed appeal on October 21, 2011.

In December 2011, our client married his U.S. Citizen wife and through our office, filed an I-130 petition on January 3, 2012. Once we obtained the I-130 receipt notice, we filed a Motion to Reopen on January 10, 2012, within the 90-day deadline for filing Motions to Reopen with the BIA.

On January 12, 2012 our client was picked up and detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. We visited our client and jail and soon filed a Motion to Stay with the BIA. A stay if approved would prevent deportation pending a pending appeal or motion. Our office argued that the Board should issue a stay of removal pending a decision on the Motion to Reopen. The Motion to Stay was filed with evidence of a bona fide marriage, however, on January 27, 2012, the BIA denied our request for stay. We immediately called ICE and they already set a deportation date of February 2, 2012. Since there was no limit to the Motions to Stay that one can file, we prepared another Motion to Stay on January 27, 2012, spending the whole day with our client’s wife in putting in more evidence of their bona fide marriage including a broad power of attorney entrusting his wife with the management of his financial, personal, and real property interests, a joint bank account, and numerous letters and photographs from family and friends affirming the bona fide nature of their marriage. Our office argued that these types of documents submitted with our Motion clearly demonstrate that their marriage was entered into in good faith as the BIA set forth in Matter of Velarde, 23 I&N Dec. 253 (BIA 2002). On January 31, 2012, two days before the deportation date, our Motion to Stay was approved, which meant that our client would not be deported on February 2.

Eventually, the BIA granted our client’s Motion to Reopen on February 8, 2012, and remanded it to the Immigration Judge to allow our client to apply for adjustment of status (green card). Upon approval of the Motion to Reopen, we promptly contacted ICE and requested release. On February 10, 2012, our client finally released from the detention facility. Now he simply has to wait for his I-130 interview and once that is approved, he can apply for adjustment of status.