EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS in New York City & Beyond

A Cohen Forman Barone client was detained in March upon his arrival at Newark International Airport from a trip overseas. The basis of his detention was a 2009 theft conviction that rendered him inadmissible to the United States, despite his status as a lawful permanent resident. Additionally, he was not legally eligible for bond and, therefore, spent the next four months in a detention center. The attorneys at CFB applied for relief from removal under Section 212(h) of the Immigration Nationality Act (“INA”), which is available as a “standalone” application to lawful permanent residents deemed inadmissible after a trip abroad. The hearing was conducted on July 26, 2019 at the Elizabeth Immigration Court, and after reviewing the evidence submitted in support of the application, as well as hearing from the client and his witnesses, the Immigration Judge granted the application. The client was released from detention that day and is now back home in New Jersey with his family.

A CFB client had been accused of a felony fraud from 20 years ago. Law enforcement said he was on the run and issued a warrant for his arrest. Despite living a law abiding life for the last two decades, he felt law enforcement was closing in on him. When he came to CFB his hopes of avoiding the charges, a criminal conviction and potential jail time were thinning. He was scared and his wife was overcome with anxiety and the resulting sleep deprivation. After spending several weeks collecting information from the client’s past the lawyers at CFB were able to present to the district attorney’s office a package highlighting the devastation that any conviction would hold for the client. With a mitigation package submitted to the prosecutor’s office outlining client’s exemplary lifestyle since the warrant was issued over two decade ago, CFB was able to obtain the best possible result for the client. All charges were dismissed the warrant vacated and his wife had finally gotten a good night’s sleep.

CFB client was approved for U.S. Citizenship in Newark, New Jersey after appearing at his second interview in a naturalization case where client had significant criminal and tax payment issues. With CFB’s careful and resolute guidance, client soldiered on and continued to pursue his naturalization despite the complications and was both approved and sworn in on the very same day after satisfying USCIS of his worthiness for U.S. Citizenship.

On April 23, 2019, an Armenian/Russian national CFB client facing a criminal prosecution in Russia was granted adjustment of status as relief in removal proceedings. The client was initially detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). A contentious bond proceeding was conducted in July of 2018, in which the government adamantly argued that the client should remain detained. The Immigration Judge ultimately agreed with CFB's argument that the client should be released and granted bond. CFB continued in its zealous representation of the client in his pursuit of a green card. After a contested hearing, the Immigration Judge ultimately granted him his green card and he is now a lawful permanent resident of the United States.

CFB successfully secured a monetary bond for client previously detained in removal proceedings in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Client had a complex immigration and criminal history, including a pending warrant and open criminal case in two different states. Nevertheless, CFB devised a litigation strategy that successfully navigated client through these many challenges and ultimately resulted him regaining his liberty and returning to his loved ones.

On January 24, 2019 the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed an appeal filed by ICE/DHS after a win by CFB attorneys in immigration court. ICE/DHS appealed an immigration judge’s finding that CFB’s client was granted protection under the Convention Against Torture. Despite client’s lack of status and prior drug convictions here in the United States, CFB attorneys were able to successfully convince an immigration judge that client faced imminent danger at the hands of dangerous individuals in his native country of Dominican Republic. CFB represented client in both immigration court in front of an immigration judge as well as successfully defending client’s case against the appeal by the government.

Client was charged with Medicaid fraud. She had been convicted for a very similar crime many years earlier and now, as a licensed professional, she faced severe collateral consequences beyond those of the criminal justice system if she were convicted of these charges or if she had to spend any time incarcerated.

Client came to us after meeting with and paying her prior counsel.

Because the client had the prior misdemeanor conviction, also negotiated off a felony from years before, she was told by her first counsel on our case that she would have to plead guilty to this felony and probably do some jail time as well.

Attorney Cohen put together a mitigation package, supported by letters from friends, proof of charity work, proof of employment, letters from employers and other “good deed/character” letters and documents that I submitted to the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor’s office expressed their admiration of the mitigation package, calling it the best they had seen, and allowed my client to plead to a misdemeanor and dismissed the felony. Client risked losing her license, losing her opportunity for future employment and being unable to continue her payments for rent. She was distraught and close to breakdown when we met. She was elated, hysterically happy and very thankful.

On December 17, 2018 Cohen Forman Barone client was granted relief from deportation ending a case that lawyers for CFB have been fighting for more than 5 years. Client had numerous criminal convictions that provided significant procedural and substantive hurdles for the immigration court proceeding. Despite client’s most recent arrest of a violent felony just a couple months before his immigration hearing; CFB successfully argued that the client was fully rehabilitated and he merited a second chance to remain in the United States. There were tears of joy by lawyers, client and client’s wife and children. At CFB we fight to show the human side and consequences of potential deportation. We are very grateful for this result.

After a contested removal hearing an immigration judge granted cancellation of removal to a CFB client. The client, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, was first placed in removal proceedings seven years ago due to a 1992 drug sale conviction. The conviction was classified as an aggravated felony and rendered the client ineligible for relief from deportation. CFB’s initial step was to bring a post conviction motion into criminal court, seeking to vacate the conviction, which was granted by the criminal court judge. While the client was still removable due to another drug possession offense, he was no longer barred from relief because unlike a drug sale, a drug possession offense is not an aggravated felony. The litigation continued in Immigration Court until a trial was conducted on May 8, 2019. The immigration judge granted the waiver and the client finally has his green card back and is free of the stresses of planning for a possible future separated from his family outside of the United States.

Client charged with felony weapons possession and intent to use unlawfully. 1 loaded firearm with serial number defaced and second firearm found in client’s possession.

We Prepared mitigation package, showed lack of intent to use, argued against the need for any supervision and secured detailed information regarding employment consequences to client.

Argued potential 4th amendment violation and extrajudicial police actions.

Ultimately all felony weapons charges were dismissed and client was ordered to pay a nominal fine.