We've seen a substantial increase in activity by the Border Patrol, a sub-agency of the Customs and Border Protection, at the bus station in Sandusky. Many unknowing foreign nationals are traveling by bus between New York / Newark and Chicago or farther out west. As a matter of course Border Patrol is inspecting documents of passengers. If an alien is unlucky enough to get picked up, Border Patrol does not usually grant a bond. Instead, they complete the custody determination worksheet, assign a no bond and transfer the detainee to ICE (in Tiffin, Ohio at the Senceca County Jail). ICE generally won't disturb the previous bond determination made by their sister agency.
Therefore, the only course of action is to file a bond redetermination with the immigration judge. The Cleveland immigration judge's have been tough but reasonable and fair in their bond determinations. They have been consistent with what ICE would have issued if it was there case. By not disturbing the prior determination, this allows ICE to leverage custody with a stipulated order of removal (or "you'll be home in two weeks if you sign this document").
Signing a stipulated order not only carries the consquence of the order of removal, but for those who have been unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than one year, their departure then triggers the ten year bar to returning. Coupled with the bar for having been removed, it is almost impossible to re-enter the U.S. lawfully. In summary, if somone you know, a friend or a relative is in this situation, they cannot sign that document and they need representation immediately.
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