Deportation Defense Attorney in Houston

Defending Houston Families in Immigration Court Since 2013

A Notice to Appear (NTA) opens formal removal proceedings, and the timeline moves fast once it’s filed. At Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC, we represent individuals and families facing deportation before the Houston Immigration Court, providing bilingual services in English and Spanish throughout every stage of the process. Attorney Abraham J. Galaviz, the son of Mexican immigrants who benefited from the 1986 amnesty, brings firsthand understanding of what clients are actually going through, not just what the law says about their situation.

Deportation can affect any non-citizen, regardless of how long they’ve lived in the United States or what legal status they hold. Airport detention and removal proceedings are disorienting and high-stakes. The single most important step you can take is securing representation early. Contact Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC through our online form or call (713) 597-5642 to speak with a deportation defense attorney in Houston.

Navigating the Houston Immigration Court

The Houston Immigration Court (EOIR) is one of the highest-volume removal courts in the country, processing thousands of cases each year. That volume creates a procedural environment where preparation and familiarity with local judicial tendencies matter. Generic arguments don’t hold up in a court that sees hundreds of similar cases every month.

Our team regularly appears before the Houston Immigration Court and coordinates directly with local USCIS field offices. We know the procedural nuances of this specific court and can give clients realistic guidance on timelines and what to expect at both master calendar hearings and individual hearings, rather than estimates based on national averages that don’t reflect what’s actually happening in Houston.

Let our Houston deportation lawyer help you fight for the right to remain in the United States. Contact us online or at (713) 597-5642 for help with removal proceedings in Texas.

What Deportation Actually Costs

Deportation means more than leaving the country. It can fracture families, end careers, and close the door on future opportunities to return legally. A removal order on record can negatively affect future visa applications and eligibility for citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

Deportation can occur for a variety of reasons, including:

• Violation of immigration laws or regulations
• Criminal convictions or charges
• Failing to maintain legal status
• Failure to appear at immigration hearings

Common Grounds for Removal

The grounds for removal are broader than many people realize. Even minor misdemeanors can trigger inadmissibility and a Notice to Appear, beginning formal removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

Common grounds for removal include:

• Unlawful entry into the United States
• Overstaying a visa
• Status violations
• Immigration fraud
• Criminal convictions

The unlawful presence bars under federal law carry long-term consequences. An immigrant unlawfully present for more than 180 days who departs is barred from returning for three years; unlawful presence exceeding one year triggers a 10-year bar. Under the expedited removal policy that took effect January 21, 2025, an immigrant encountered anywhere in the United States who can’t demonstrate at least two years of continuous physical presence may be removed without a standard immigration court hearing, making early legal intervention more critical than ever.

Defenses & Forms of Relief from Removal

Even when removal proceedings have begun, meaningful defenses and forms of relief are often available. The right strategy depends on the grounds alleged, the client’s immigration history, and their family circumstances. Our attorneys evaluate all of the following before recommending a course of action.

Removal defense strategies we evaluate include:

• Challenging the Notice to Appear - A removal case can be challenged on procedural grounds, such as the NTA being sent to the wrong address or the government misapplying legal procedures.
• Proving non-removability - Applies when the person is a U.S. citizen, when a conviction doesn’t meet the federal definition of a deportable offense, or when DHS misapplied the law.
• Adjustment of Status - Available through cancellation of removal, asylum, or status adjustment for eligible beneficiaries.
• 212(h) Waiver - Available for certain criminal convictions when the immigration court exercises discretion.
• Asylum or Withholding of Removal - Available to individuals who can demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
• Cancellation of Removal - For lawful permanent residents, requires five years as an LPR and seven years of continuous U.S. residence with no aggravated felony. For non-permanent residents, requires 10 years of continuous presence and a showing of exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a qualifying U.S. citizen or LPR family member.
• Prosecutorial Discretion - The government may choose not to proceed with removal in certain circumstances.

Appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) must be filed within 30 days of a removal order. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals also reviews certain Houston removal cases. We analyze each of these options against the specific facts before recommending a path forward.

ICE Detention & Bond Hearings

When ICE detains someone, the clock starts immediately. We can file a notice of appearance with the immigration court and request a bond hearing right away, which may result in release while the removal case proceeds. At a bond hearing, the immigration judge evaluates whether the detained person is a flight risk or a danger to the community. We present evidence of family ties, employment history, and community roots to argue for a reasonable bond amount.

Mandatory detention rules apply to certain criminal convictions, and not everyone qualifies for bond. We evaluate whether mandatory detention applies and whether any arguments exist for release, so clients and families know what to expect and what options remain. Our firm has secured releases from immigration detention facilities in numerous cases, and we stay accessible during these emergencies because detentions don’t follow business hours.

Texas Criminal Charges & Immigration Consequences

One of the most consequential and often misunderstood areas of immigration law is the intersection of state criminal charges and federal removal grounds. A plea deal that resolves a Texas criminal matter can trigger deportation consequences that neither the client nor their criminal defense attorney anticipated.

Not all criminal convictions automatically result in removal. Whether a conviction qualifies as a deportable or inadmissible offense under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires a separate legal analysis that goes beyond the state court outcome. Deferred adjudications and records expunged under Texas law may still be treated as convictions for federal immigration purposes. Aggravated felonies under the INA carry some of the harshest removal consequences, including permanent bars to most forms of relief. Texas DWI convictions can trigger removal grounds depending on the offense level and the individual’s immigration history.

Our firm has handled cases at this intersection for years. We have represented lawful permanent residents facing loss of their green cards due to previous aggravated felony convictions and have obtained dismissals in cases involving significant drug possession accusations that carried deportation risk. We have also defended clients facing removal due to Medicaid fraud charges and multiple DWI charges. We offer criminal defense services structured specifically to protect immigration status, not just to resolve the state court matter.

Why Houston Clients Choose Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC

Galaviz Law Firm, PLLC was founded in 2013 by Attorney Abraham J. Galaviz, who completed a clerkship for the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas before launching his practice. He earned his law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The firm is built on trial experience in complex immigration court matters, not on processing routine applications.

Our approach to every removal case centers on meticulous documentation and evidence gathering for both master calendar and individual hearings. We analyze how a defense strategy affects the entire family unit, not just the individual respondent, to minimize the risk of long-term separation. Beyond our caseload, we provide free legal advice at Houston-area community workshops because knowing your rights shouldn’t require hiring an attorney first.

Initial consultations include a comprehensive review of case strengths and potential roadblocks, so clients go into hearings before the Houston Immigration Court and USCIS with realistic preparation rather than false confidence. All services are available in English and Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Don’t wait to get help. Call our deportation defense attorneys in Houston at (713) 597-5642 or use our online form to get started today.