What to do if ICE detains a family member
September 14, 2026
The first steps when a loved one is detained by immigration: how to locate them, what not to sign, and what documents to gather to ask for bond.
Read article →Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, and Sheboygan counties · Chicago Immigration Court
Are you afraid to return to your country?
Asylum protects people who suffered persecution or fear it because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Attorney Javier Irizarry Lugo prepares asylum applications before USCIS and defends them in immigration court.
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Chicago Immigration Court · Wisconsin circuit courts
What is happening
- There are two paths: affirmative asylum (an application to USCIS with an interview) and defensive asylum (raised as a defense in immigration court).
- In general, the application must be filed within one year of arrival in the United States. There are exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances.
- The case depends on your story told in detail and on the evidence that supports it: documents, witnesses, country reports.
What the attorney does
- Listens to your full story, in Spanish or English, and tells you plainly whether it fits one of the categories the law protects.
- Prepares the written declaration and country evidence, and prepares you for the interview or hearing.
- Files on time or argues the exception to the one-year deadline where it applies.
What to bring to the consultation
- Your passport and the date of your last entry to the United States.
- Any document about what happened: police reports, medical reports, photos, messages.
- Names of people who can confirm your story.
- Any immigration or court paper you have received.
Common questions
Can I work while my asylum is pending?
After a certain period with the application pending you can request a work permit. The attorney will tell you when.
Is my family included?
Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 who are in the United States can be included in many cases.
Do I have to tell everything?
Yes. Omissions and contradictions are the most common reason for a denial. Everything you tell the attorney is confidential.