The Plea That Deports You: Why a Louisiana Criminal Case Is an Immigration Case Too

A man walks into our office holding a piece of paper from eight years ago. It is a minute entry from a Louisiana district court. He pled guilty to a theft charge, got probation, completed it, and had the case set aside. His lawyer told him it would not be on his record. He believed…

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When Your Asylum Case Goes to Immigration Court: What a Referral Actually Means

You filed Form I-589 almost two years ago. You sat in the waiting room at the asylum office. You answered every question an officer asked about the night the men came to your house, and about why you could not go to the police. Then an envelope came. It did not say approved. It said…

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What “Medical Hardship” Actually Means on Form EOIR-42B

A father in Baton Rouge sits across from me with a folder. Inside is a photograph of his nine year old daughter, a United States citizen, and a prescription bottle. She has Type 1 diabetes. He has worked in Louisiana since 2011 and has no criminal record. He has a removal hearing, and he wants…

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Voluntary Departure Sounds Like Mercy. Asked For Alone, It Is Usually a Surrender

A man is arrested after a traffic stop in East Baton Rouge Parish. Within a week he is in a detention center in central Louisiana, appearing by video before an immigration judge, with no attorney. The judge asks whether he wants to fight his case or take voluntary departure. Someone in his housing unit already…

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Immigration Habeas Corpus in the Fifth Circuit: What Families in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas Need to Know

If someone you love has been picked up by ICE and taken to Jena, Winnfield, Basile, Natchez or one of the detention centers in South Texas, you have probably already heard the words “no bond.” You may have been told there is nothing to be done until the immigration judge rules, and that the wait…

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a judge and lawyers present for a bond hearing for an immigrant

What Happens at an Immigration Bond Hearing? A Family’s Guide

Your phone rings with a number you don’t recognize, and the voice on the other end tells you ICE has taken someone you love. Here’s exactly what happens at an immigration bond hearing, step by step, so you know what to expect and what to do next. An immigration bond hearing is a short court…

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Rozas Law Firm Welcomes Ken Mayeaux and the Mayeaux & Associates Team

Rozas Law Firm is pleased to welcome attorney Ken Mayeaux, along with the attorneys and staff of Mayeaux & Associates L.C., to our firm. The transition will take place during July and August 2026. It brings together two Baton Rouge legal teams that share a commitment to helping immigrants, individuals and families navigate challenging legal…

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What Happens During the Deportation Process?

The deportation process, officially called the removal process, is a series of legal steps the U.S. government takes to remove a noncitizen from the country. It usually begins with a Notice to Appear, moves through immigration court hearings, and ends with either a removal order or a form of relief that allows the person to…

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Can I Extend My Visa in the US? A Complete Guide for Visitors and Families

The short answer is yes. But only if you act in time. Many visitors find themselves in the same position. You came to the U.S. for a few months, and now circumstances have changed. Maybe your recovery is taking longer than expected. Maybe family needs you here. Whatever the reason, the path forward exists. The…

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immigrant detained in detention center in louisiana at risk of being deported to third country

Can Immigrants Be Deported to a Third Country? What Families Need to Know

Hearing that someone can be deported to a country they have never been to sounds impossible at first. For many families, it also sounds like the kind of thing that should come with time, warning, and a real chance to fight back. Yes, in some cases, the U.S. government can try to deport an immigrant…

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