Posted on April 26, 2018 in Immigration

During the seemingly endless discussion of sanctuary jurisdictions in the U.S., much has been discussed surrounding what are called ICE holds or immigration detainers, and what that term of art actually means. If you or a loved one are the subject of an ICE hold, it is critical to understand what options you have in terms of negotiating release from it.

Immigration and the Criminal Justice System

Under the current federal administration, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has, in many eyes, become an arm of the criminal justice system, instead of its own separate entity. Certainly this synergy is shown when discussing deportation requests—one main cog of the deportation machine is when local police forces are requested to detain immigrants. ICE obtains information about immigrants, both documented and undocumented, through a variety of programs that funnel data about non-citizens to them.

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 Posted on April 25, 2018 in Personal Injury

Ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are becoming increasingly popular throughout Chicagoland, and many DuPage County residents also rely on ride-sharing apps instead of calling a taxi. Indeed, it is often much more convenient to log into your Uber app to arrange for a car in many different situations, whether you are meeting friends or coworkers for an evening out, or if you want to avoid parking at Chicago O’Hare or Midway airports.

An article in Crain’s Chicago Business tracked Uber usage throughout the Chicago area, emphasizing that younger and more affluent people are the most likely to use ride-sharing services. The bottom line is this: there are many more Uber and Lyft drivers than ever before. With more ride-sharing apps and vehicles on the road, car accidents can happen with Uber or Lyft drivers. What should you do if you were involved in a crash with an Uber driver? In other words, what steps do you need to take if an Uber or Lyft driver was careless or reckless and crashed into your motor vehicle? In most cases, the steps you should take are similar to those in any car accident case.

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 Posted on April 23, 2018 in Family Law

Divorce mediation gives couples who are ending their marriage the opportunity to resolve problems outside of the courtroom. It involves a mediator who points out certain issues and helps couples come to mutual agreements. The goal of the mediator is to remain neutral but allow each spouse see both sides clearly. Five of the most common mediation myths include:

1. Mediation is not for couples who do not agree on anything.

It is important to note that you do not have to agree on everything with your spouse. The purpose of mediation is to assist you and your spouse in resolving divorce problems outside of court. A mediator can help you find a common ground and come to an agreement with your spouse.

2. Marital assets can only be divided fairly in court.

Many couples are wary of mediation because they believe that it will prevent their marital assets from being divided fairly. If you go through a divorce, your marital assets will be divided fairly regardless of whether you go to court or not. If you opt for mediation, you will have more control of how your assets are divided and will not have to depend on a judge to divide them.

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 Posted on April 18, 2018 in Immigration

As of this writing, both houses of Congress have failed to pass any comprehensive fix for the lingering question that is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Instituted under President Obama, the program has been under attack since the installation of the current administration, being ‘cancelled’ in September 2017, though currently there is an injunction in place against its disbandment. Nonetheless, the question must be asked—if no fix is passed to grant legal status to the DREAMers, what can they do? Is there any reprieve possible?

Expedited Removal is an Issue

One major concern for many DREAMers is what is referred to as expedited removal. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), passed in 1996, instituted the concept, which permits immigration authorities to arrest and deport those in the country for less than two years without giving them a hearing before an immigration judge (which is required for all others charged with immigration violations). Formerly, this was only enforced within the so-called 100-mile zone, meaning that the interior of the country was a safe zone of sorts. This administration has extended the reach of this procedure to the entire country.

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 Posted on April 18, 2018 in Personal Injury

How often are you sharing the road in DuPage County with an uninsured motorist? According to a recent article in the Insurance Journal, approximately one out of every eight drivers does not have automobile insurance and thus is putting insured drivers at greater risk in the event of an auto accident. In some regions of the country, the percentage of uninsured motorists on the road is as high as 20 percent. This information comes from a recent study conducted by the Insurance Research Council (IRC) and the Hanover Insurance Group. What else should Lombard drivers know about the risks of auto accidents involving uninsured drivers?

High Costs of Auto Accidents with Uninsured Drivers

The number of uninsured drivers on the highways and streets of the U.S. has been on the rise in recent years, according to the IRC study. Between 2010 and 2015, the rate rose from 12.3 percent to 13 percent on average across the country. And these accidents are extremely costly in terms of financial burden, not to mention the physical and emotional one. The average cost of an uninsured motorist claim is approximately $20,000, and that excludes claims for property damage (or damage to the motor vehicle).

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 Posted on April 16, 2018 in Family Law

The family law lawyer you select for your case can make a significant impact on your current life and future. Therefore, it is essential that you choose the right one. Since there are a plethora of family law matters such as divorce, child custody, spousal support, and parenting plan modifications, your goal should be to find the lawyer who has experience handling a case similar to yours. To help you find the right lawyer, consider asking any lawyers you interview the following questions:

1. How long have you practiced family law?

You do not want to choose a lawyer who is a jack of all trades and represents clients in all types of cases. By selecting a lawyer who has been focusing on family law for many years, you can ensure that they will understand the complexities involved in your case.

2. How many cases have you handled that are similar to mine?

A family law lawyer may have handled hundreds of divorce cases. However, they may have minimal experience representing clients who have cases that involve complicated child custody matters. If your case is a complicated one that involves child custody, do not hire an attorney who is not experienced in this matter.

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 Posted on April 12, 2018 in Immigration

Most immigrants who petition for a stay of deportation or removal will do so based on a law they believe helps their case. Sometimes, however, an undocumented person has to depend on what is called a cancellation of removal, which is essentially prosecutorial discretion, allowing him or her to stay in the U.S., though he or she technically lacks the right to remain. Among the requirements that must be demonstrated, the immigrant must show at least “exceptional” hardship to a U.S. citizen if he or she was to be deported. This standard has become all but impossible to meet.

The Requirements

In order to qualify for cancellation of removal under the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA), three requirements must be met. The alien must (1) not have been convicted of certain offenses and generally been a person of “good moral character” during his or her stay in the United States; (2) resided in the U.S. for at least 7 years (or been physically present for 10, if he or she seeks to adjust status); and (3) he or she must establish that his or her removal would result in “exceptional and extremely unusual hardship” to his or her U.S. citizen (or lawful permanent resident) spouse, parent, or child.

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 Posted on April 12, 2018 in Personal Injury

When considering the reasons why teen drivers are more likely to be involved in car accidents in DuPage County than older drivers, one may assume that teens do not have the same skills as more experienced drivers. However, according to a recent study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles and reported by CBS News, many teens performed better than older motorists, even when traversing some of the worst roads in the state. In other words, teens may have more technical driving skills than most of us. Why, then, do teen drivers have a higher rate of serious and fatal collisions?

Teens Have Higher Skill Ratings Than Older Drivers

The study looked at 100 novice drivers who were preparing for their driver’s license test. The drivers were not necessarily teens, but were simply inexperienced drivers who were just learning to drive. Generally speaking, the researchers determined that teen drivers tend to have a higher skill rating than even slightly older drivers, and that is true for both male and female drivers. While female teen drivers have less confidence in their driving skills than male teen drivers, the study showed no difference in skill set among male and female drivers. Where the difference comes in is age. To reiterate, teens tend to have better driving skills than older drivers.

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 Posted on April 09, 2018 in Family Law

Going through a divorce is difficult. Even if you have an amicable relationship with your soon to be ex-spouse, the process can be emotional and overwhelming. Regardless of your situation, you should remember to take care of yourself during this challenging time. This way, you can keep your physical and mental health under control. Here are seven tips for practicing self-care during divorce:

1. Get Enough Sleep

In order for your body and brain to function well, you should try to get seven to eight hours of sleep each evening. If you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep because there is too much on your mind, try to take a warm bath, meditate, or listen to some soothing to relax your mind and get you in the mood for sleep.

2. Exercise Regularly

Even if you are busy and would rather sit on the couch and relax, you should make an effort to work out for at least 30-minutes a day. By doing so, you can avoid stress-induced weight gain and boost your levels of endorphins, which is the hormone that makes you happy.

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 Posted on April 04, 2018 in Immigration

Much ink has been spilled in recent months regarding the H1B visa, which is an employment-based non-immigrant visa that allows specialized professionals to work in the U.S. if sponsored by the relevant company. The current administration has made it clear that a reduced flow of such visas is a priority and, as such, there is a significant amount of misinformation surrounding the H1B visa as of this writing. If you are in a situation where you may apply for or receive one, it is important to understand the truth.

H1Bs Are Limited

Unlike many other visas, the H1B category is perpetually limited and oversubscribed, with demand far exceeding the cumulative 85,000 visas available each fiscal year. It is specifically limited to “specialty occupations,” the criteria for which is specified in the visa manual. A very small number of H1Bs are exempt from the cap, but not enough to make any substantive difference in the years-long queue.

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