Immigrants in New Jersey and elsewhere often encounter challenges regarding their legal statuses. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers make lots of arrests when they believe people are eligible for deportation. Such arrests cause stress and fear in many families, but a U.S. District Court judge sitting in another state recently handed down a ruling that immigrant families in his particular state are happy about.

The lawsuit was filed in connection with evidence that ICE officers had lured people to marriage interviews in order to arrest them for deportation. Many immigrant advocates say that doing so placed ICE in position to act against its own policies that are meant to help prevent immigrant family separations. They are pleased with the judge's ruling because it states that ICE may not arrest people for deportation who are currently involved in  applications for permanent residency based on marriage to a U.S. citizen.

The judge's ruling only pertains to immigrants and ICE agents in Maryland. Nevertheless, one advocate said it is a step in the right direction to help keep immigrant families together. Sadly, many immigrants in that state and others have been permanently separated from their loved ones who were arrested and sent back to their countries of origin.

If an immigration issue arises that places a New Jersey resident's legal status at risk, he or she is wise to immediately reach out for legal support. It can be frightening and confusing to try to navigate the U.S. immigration law system without benefit of legal support. By asking an experienced attorney to review a case, an concerned immigrant can explore whatever options might be available to help solve the problem.