IN THIS ISSUE

About The Firm:

Bretz & Coven, LLP is a full-service immigration law firm in New York City. Our attorneys serve immigrants who seek the privileges and benefits of U.S. visitation and lawful permanent residence.

We know the road to citizenship is not always a smooth one. That is why we provide you with an immigration lawyer in New York City to meet all the needs you may have along the way. Whether it involves services for yourself or a family member, someone in the U.S. or outside the country, you can count on us to seek the best possible outcome for you.

Individuals, families, and corporations regularly turn to us for help. Our attorneys are admitted to all state circuit and district courts, the state Supreme Court, federal and appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our firm is a full-service immigration law firm in New York City that is AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell^®, the highest peer-review rating a law firm can receive for legal knowledge and ethical practices. Bretz & Coven works with clients and takes on cases that other attorneys cannot handle. Our firm concentrates on deportation defense and immigration laws, and we speak over twenty languages.

At Bretz & Coven, LLP, many of our staff members and New York City immigration lawyers have gone through the federal immigration process before working with our firm. We know what you are going through, and we want to help. We explain what is happening with your case in clear, understandable language, how we plan to handle it, and we keep you up-to-date on any changes as soon as we are able to do so.

USEFUL LINKS:

American Immigration Lawyers Association
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. State Department Visa Bulletins

FIRM NEWS

Kerry Bretz Praises Court of Appeals’ Ruling in Harbin Case
Says Decision Will Protect Immigrants from Being Deported for Certain New York Controlled Substance Offenses
Kerry Bretz, Managing Partner, Bretz & Coven, LLP, says the Second Circuit Court of Appeals' decision in Harbin v. Lynch is a precedent-setting one in that lawful permanent residents convicted of certain controlled substance offenses may no longer be deportable. He also urged them to seek legal counsel if such a case comes up.

New York Law Journal Interviews Firm Partner Kerry Bretz
Kerry Bretz, Managing Partner of Bretz & Coven, LLP, was recently quoted in a New York Law Journal article about New York City's new law aimed to protect its immigrant communities by implementing harsher penalties for the unauthorized practice of immigration law. Mr. Bretz welcomes the increased regulations and said that he and other immigration attorneys in the city spend a considerable amount of their time working with immigrants who went to the notarios first, only to find that their pockets are lighter and that their immigration issues remain.

To read the article, click here.

Kerry Bretz Speaks at Prominent New York City CLE Seminars
Recently, Managing Partner Kerry Bretz spoke at two Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars. On Tuesday, June 12, Mr. Bretz spoke at "The Basics of Removal Defense Training Program" CLE at the New York Law School. He spoke about the review of the notice to appear (NTA), including burden of proof as to NTA charges proof, legal challenges to the NTA, and common grounds of removability.

On Tuesday, May 16, Mr. Bretz spoke at the New York State Bar Association's (NYSBA) "Immigration Law: Where Are We Now?" CLE seminar located at 1540 Broadway, New York, NY. Mr. Bretz discussed crimes and punishments, including how aggravated felonies, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), drug crimes, domestic felonies, theft, and other crimes may affect immigration status and eligibility.

Bretz & Coven Offers Consultations at a Reduced Rate for Summer
The firm is pleased to announce that it will be offering consultations at a reduced rate from now until the end of August 2017.

LEGAL NEWS

Unpredictability Under The Trump Administration
Gone are the days when, under the Obama administration, immigration enforcement priorities were clearly outlined. Now, with Donald J. Trump as president, immigration policies regarding enforcement and deportation have become more confusing. As a result, discretion is left to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in the field, which creates confusion among officers in the same ICE department and different ICE departments.

Non-Citizens with Controlled Substance Cases and Convictions Should Revisit Their Cases
Non-citizens with controlled substance cases and convictions should consider revisiting their cases, including those who already received a removal order. On June 21, 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision which has far-reaching effects on non-citizens who have been convicted of certain controlled substance offenses in New York.

ICE Officials Appearing at New York Courts
New York’s courts have received some unexpected visitors over the past month: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Since the February expansion of ICE’s enforcement efforts by the Trump administration, ICE has been seeking ways to remove individuals targeted for deportation. With New York and other states failing to respond to ICE detainers, the agency has decided to try another route, waiting for individuals in the courts.

The New Immigration Policy's Effects on Immigrants in the Workplace
Following the Executive Orders and corresponding guidelines implemented over the past month by the Trump administration, New Yorkers have seen an increase in the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. The most recent guidelines by the Department of Homeland Security broadened ICE’s priorities to include nearly every undocumented immigrant in the United States, and opened the door for assistance from local law enforcement agencies.