Immigration and Removal Defense Glossary

30 terms and definitions related to immigration law, removal proceedings, and legal defenses.

Aggravated Felony

A category of criminal offenses under INA §101(a)(43) that triggers severe immigration consequences including deportation and bars on most relief.

Asylum

Protection granted to individuals who face persecution in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or particular social group.

BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals)

The appellate body that reviews immigration judge decisions. Appeals must be filed within 30 days.

Bond Hearing

A hearing before an immigration judge to determine whether a detained individual should be released on bond.

CAT (Convention Against Torture)

International law prohibiting return of any person to a country where they would face torture.

Cancellation of Removal

A defense allowing qualifying individuals to avoid deportation. Different requirements for LPRs and non-LPRs.

CIMT (Crime Involving Moral Turpitude)

A category of criminal offenses that can trigger deportation, including fraud, theft, and crimes of violence.

DACA

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — a program providing temporary protection and work authorization to qualifying undocumented individuals brought to the U.S. as children.

Deportation

The removal of a non-citizen from the United States by the federal government.

DHS

Department of Homeland Security — the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement.

EOIR

Executive Office for Immigration Review — the division of the Department of Justice that oversees immigration courts.

Expedited Removal

A process allowing removal of certain individuals without a hearing before an immigration judge.

ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the DHS agency responsible for interior immigration enforcement and detention.

IJ (Immigration Judge)

A judge appointed by the Attorney General who presides over removal proceedings.

INA

Immigration and Nationality Act — the primary federal statute governing immigration law.

In Absentia Order

A removal order issued when a respondent fails to appear for a scheduled immigration court hearing.

LPR

Lawful Permanent Resident — a person who holds a green card.

Master Calendar Hearing

The initial procedural hearing in immigration court.

Merits Hearing

The hearing where the immigration judge considers the full evidence and arguments in a removal case.

Motion to Reopen

A filing asking the immigration court to reopen a case, often based on new evidence or changed circumstances.

NTA (Notice to Appear)

The charging document that initiates removal proceedings in immigration court.

Particular Social Group

One of the five protected grounds for asylum, covering groups defined by an immutable or fundamental characteristic.

Prosecutorial Discretion

The DHS attorney’s authority to exercise judgment about how to handle a case, including declining to pursue removal.

Relief from Removal

Any legal basis for avoiding deportation, including cancellation, asylum, withholding, CAT, and voluntary departure.

Removal Proceedings

The formal legal process in immigration court to determine whether a non-citizen should be deported.

Sanctuary City

A city with policies limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Stay of Removal

A court order temporarily preventing the government from carrying out a removal order.

USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — the DHS agency responsible for processing immigration benefits.

Voluntary Departure

A grant allowing departure without a formal removal order, preserving future immigration options.

Withholding of Removal

Protection preventing deportation to a specific country, available when the applicant shows a clear probability of persecution.