Fort Lauderdale deportation & removal defense lawyer.
If you or someone you love has been placed in removal proceedings, you are likely frightened, and you are right to take it seriously. The good news is that being put in immigration court is not the same as being deported — you may have real defenses, but the clock is already running. Lisa Marie Santamarta will look at your case quickly, tell you the truth about where you stand, and stand beside you in court. Do not wait, and please do not go to a hearing alone.
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Your Fort Lauderdale deportation defense lawyer
Removal — what most people call deportation — is the legal process the federal government uses to try to make someone leave the United States. As a Fort Lauderdale deportation defense lawyer, Lisa Marie Santamarta represents people in Broward County and across South Florida who have been placed in removal proceedings and are fighting to stay with their families, their jobs, and the lives they have built here. Being in proceedings does not mean the case is over. It means you have a chance to be heard — and the law gives many people real ways to fight back.
This is federal law, not a state matter. Removal cases are decided by an immigration judge in immigration court, which is run by an office of the U.S. Department of Justice called the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). That court is completely separate from the criminal courts you may have heard about. The government's side is argued by a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, and your side is argued by the attorney you bring. There is no public defender in immigration court. If you do not hire a lawyer, no one is appointed to fight for you.
The stakes could not be higher. A removal order can mean being separated from your spouse and children, losing everything you have worked for, and being barred from coming back to the United States for years — sometimes for life. The deadlines are short, the rules are unforgiving, and one missed step can close doors that cannot be reopened. That is why the most important thing you can do today is get advice from a real attorney before you say or sign anything.
From the Notice to Appear to your day in court
Removal cases follow a federal path, and acting early at each step matters enormously. Here is the shape of it, in plain terms — though every case has its own facts we will go through together.
The case begins with a charging document
Removal starts when the government issues a Notice to Appear and files it with the immigration court. This document states why the government believes you can be removed and orders you to appear before an immigration judge. Read it carefully and bring it to us right away — the charges in it shape your whole defense, and so does the hearing date written on it.
You appear before an immigration judge
Your first hearing is usually a short master calendar hearing, where the judge confirms the charges and sets a schedule. Later comes a longer individual hearing, where your defense is actually presented with testimony and evidence. We prepare you for both, respond to the government's charges, and make sure every deadline the judge sets is met.
We present your defense and any relief
Depending on your facts, we ask the judge to let you stay through whatever forms of relief you may qualify for — or, in some cases, to dismiss the charges. If the judge rules against you, there may be a right to appeal. We map out the realistic options early so nothing is left on the table.
This page provides general information about U.S. immigration matters and is not legal advice. Immigration law is federal and changes often; your specific situation requires a consultation.
Ways people fight a removal case — and why detention matters
No two cases are the same, and no honest lawyer can promise an outcome in immigration court. What we can do is look closely at your history, your family, and the government's charges, and tell you which doors may be open. Several kinds of relief exist under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and which ones fit depends entirely on your facts.
Cancellation of removal may help certain long-time residents — both green-card holders and some people without status — who meet strict requirements and can show strong ties here. Asylum and related protection may be available to people who fear harm in their home country because of who they are or what they believe. Adjustment of status can sometimes let a person become a lawful permanent resident even while in proceedings, often through a family petition. Waivers may forgive certain grounds of removal in the right circumstances. And voluntary departure lets some people leave on their own terms to avoid the harsher consequences of a formal removal order. Each of these has detailed rules, and getting the strategy right from the start is everything.
Detention is its own urgent issue. Some people are held in immigration custody while their case moves forward. Depending on the situation, it may be possible to ask a judge for a bond hearing and seek release so you can fight your case from home, near your family and your attorney. Whether bond is available, and how much it might be, depends on your circumstances and the law. If you or a loved one is detained, time is critical — call us right away so we can act fast. Lisa Marie Santamarta serves South Florida's diverse communities, and he handles each case with the care and urgency it deserves.
A steady, experienced hand when the stakes are highest
When your right to stay in this country is on the line, you want someone who will treat your case like it matters — because it does. Lisa Marie Santamarta has practiced in South Florida since 2011 and knows its many diverse communities — and she serves them in both English and Spanish. When you hire this office, you work with the attorney herself. You will not be passed from one staffer to the next, and you will always know who is standing up for you in court.
We believe you should never be surprised by a bill. Removal defense is handled on clearly agreed fees that we explain up front, before you commit — never guesswork, and never a percentage of anything. (Government filing fees are separate and set by the agencies, and we will tell you what to expect there too.) Your first consultation is free and confidential, so you can lay out your situation, ask your questions, and understand your options before deciding anything — even if the hearing date is coming up fast.
No lawyer can promise a particular result in immigration court — the decision rests with the federal government, and the law can change. What we promise is honest advice, careful and timely preparation, and a real person who answers when you call. To see the full range of immigration help we offer, visit our immigration practice overview, learn more about Lisa Marie Santamarta, or reach out to our Fort Lauderdale office today. Once your case is resolved and you are ready for the next step, we can also guide you on family-based immigration and, in time, citizenship and naturalization.
Deportation and removal defense, answered
What is a Notice to Appear?
What happens if I miss my immigration court hearing?
What defenses to deportation might I have?
Can I be released from immigration detention?
Do I need a lawyer in immigration court?
Lisa Marie Santamarta, Esq.
Work directly with Lisa Marie Santamarta
Bilingual — English & Spanish
Lisa Marie Santamarta guides individuals and families through the U.S. immigration system — green cards, citizenship, family-based petitions, work visas, and removal defense — and has practiced in South Florida since 2011.
Fluent in English and Spanish, she meets clients where they are and handles your matter personally, from the first consultation forward.
- Since 2011Florida attorney
- Immigration & PIpractice areas
- English & Spanishbilingual
Talk to a Fort Lauderdale deportation defense attorney now
If you are in removal proceedings, every day counts. Your first consultation is free and confidential. Tell us what is happening, and Lisa Marie Santamarta will explain your options and what to do next — in plain language, with no obligation.
(954) 572-8000