Dallas Legal Issues Blog

Immigration court provides few protections for your rights

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Friday, April 19, 2019.

When you think of going to court, you may imagine appearing before a judge or jury to defend yourself against criminal charges. You may also know of people who have gone to court for family law matters, financial issues or to claim damages after an injury.

If you are in the immigration system, however, you may end up in a very different kind of court. Immigration court involves those who are seeking asylum or working toward their citizenship, but many of those who come before an immigration judge are at risk of deportation because of an expired visa, lack of documentation or criminal charges.

Texas DWI stops: Why the officer isn't just making small talk

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Monday, February 25, 2019.

You had a drink or two while spending some time with friends, family or co-workers, and then you headed home. As you traveled, you heard the patrol car's sirens before you looked into your rear-view mirror and saw the lights.

You pulled your vehicle over, and the officer began talking to you through your driver's side window. After requesting that you step out of the vehicle, they starting asking you questions that seemed like small talk. At first, you may have been grateful that the officer was trying to be nice, but as the questions intensified, you realized that there may be another motive.

Becoming a U.S. citizen can provide many benefits

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Monday, December 31, 2018.

Individuals who come to the United States have different immigration status options. If they plan to stay temporarily or for a specific purpose, they may only need to obtain the applicable visa. Of course, some individuals may come to the country on a visa and later want to live here permanently.

You may have first come to the U.S. on a temporary visa but subsequently seek to obtain legal permanent residency. Perhaps you have decided to stay in this country, live your life and raise your family, and you want to do so through legal means, which is why you obtained your green card. However, more recently, you may have thought about taking your immigration status a step further and becoming a naturalized citizen.

Three common ways to obtain your Green Card

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

If coming to the United States to live and work has been a dream of yours, you may be confused about how to obtain lawful permanent residency status in this country. It is true that the process of immigrating to the U.S. is complex and carries no guarantees. In fact, in some cases, it may take years of waiting before a foreign national obtains permission to reside permanently in the U.S.

As complicated and carefully protected as the immigration system is, the government offers numerous options so that people from many walks of life have the opportunity to enjoy life in this country. For the most positive and efficient experience immigrating to the U.S., it is important to find the method of obtaining a Permanent Resident Card (commonly referred to as a "Green Card") that best suits your circumstances.

What happens if you violate your parole?

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Friday, September 7, 2018.

If a conviction for a crime left you sitting behind bars for any length of time, you undoubtedly looked forward to the parole hearing that offered the opportunity for early release. Your job during the hearing was to convince the members of the board that you have complied with the rules and that you are not a danger to yourself or society. If you were successful, you may have had a lot to celebrate when you were released.

Of course, being on parole is not the same as finishing your sentence; it is another step toward "paying your debt to society." Typically, someone convicted of a crime is eligible for parole after serving one third of the sentence unless the court denies that eligibility. Parole carries conditions, and if you fail to comply with those conditions, you may find yourself in a worse situation than when you were behind bars originally.

Texas immigrants and field sobriety tests: Things you should know

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

As someone who emigrated from another country of origin to live in Texas, you may have found aspects of life in the U.S. a bit strange at first. Sports, family customs, religious events and even traffic rules and regulations may be peculiar to someone who has lived in another country all their life.

Overcoming a language barrier and adapting to life in the United States can be challenging. Certain situations can be frightening -- like if a police officer pulls you over and asks you to step out of your car. The officer might think you were driving while intoxicated. If drunk driving is suspected, the officer may ask you to take a field sobriety test. Knowing your legal rights and understanding how to protect them may save you a lot of anguish.

The background check before your naturalization interview

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. on Thursday, May 24, 2018.

Becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States is something you may have been working on for a long time. You expect the process to be complicated and thorough, and you may recall the anxiety of waiting for your green card. This is different, however. Your citizenship will make all your effort worthwhile.

There are several parts of the U.S. naturalization process that may make you nervous. For example, if you struggle with the language, you may be anxious about the English requirement. You may be taking every chance to study for the civics portion of the test. You may wonder what questions they will ask at your interview or if you will be able to express yourself well enough. One part of the naturalization process you may not think much about is your biometrics appointment.

How will a DWI affect your job opportunities?

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. posted in blog on Monday, April 9, 2018.

The days of staying with one employer until retirement are long gone. Most Americans change jobs many times during their lives, often trying to move up as they do so. This means going through the tedious process of applying for positions and interviewing.

However, if you were recently charged with drunk driving, your chances of landing a job may have gotten smaller. While you may think a DWI is nothing serious, some employers take drunk driving convictions very seriously.

Your visa and your wedding: Removing the conditions of status

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. posted in blog on Tuesday, February 6, 2018.

While most brides and grooms have many details to iron out before the big day, your situation may have been even more complex. Marrying a U.S. citizen or green card holder involved immigration issues that you needed to resolve before you could come to the U.S. and begin your new life. One of the most important steps you had to take was to obtain your conditional residential status.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services does not offer permanent residence status to those coming into the country to get married. This is because many have committed fraud and used marriage as a way to unlawfully enter the country. To avoid this, the USCIS places conditions on your visa. However, after two years, you may apply to have those conditions removed.

White collar criminal charges: Times have changed

On behalf of Mark A. Perez, P.C. posted in blog on Monday, December 4, 2017.

Whether you work for a small or large company or you are an entrepreneur or a businessperson, you are no doubt aware of the fraud, corruption and embezzlement scandals that have made headlines in recent years. While big news stories involve government agencies and the business world, you may be more concerned about what will happen with your own case if you have been charged or you are being investigated for white-collar offenses.

With public attention on high-profile cases, you may have drawn conclusions about how authorities deal with those accused of white collar crime. Although it may seem like investigators and prosecutors aren't terribly concerned about the enforcement of laws against certain non-violent, financial offenses, you may be interested in how the facts debunk common myths about white collar crime.