Civil Contempt in Family Court
- When a non-citizen is held in contempt and given jail time, the individual becomes vulnerable to detection by ICE and deportation proceedings.
- ICE referral or custody should not deprive a non-citizen litigant’s access to the family court proceeding.
Detention and Immigration Enforcement Referral
Certain non-citizens, once detained in a local, state or federal jail or prison, may be subject to referral to ICE.
Incarceration can also lead to the denial of immigration benefits and relief
- Any time spent in jail can lead to the discretionary denial of citizenship, permanent residence and other applications for immigration-related relief/benefit, which may lead to the loss of protection from deportation.
- Any immigration benefit that the U.S. denied a family member may
also impact the immigration status of children or other family members.
