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Maximo's Story

Maximo was detained by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2018 and ordered deported, after living in the U.S. for 20 years. The unexpected removal of Maximo from his teenage daughter’s life negatively affected her. She started failing in school and even contemplated taking her own life. She was suffering without her dad.

I know that now my daughter is going to have an education and a career. She is going to get ahead and thanks to NYLAG I will be there for her.

– MAXIMO, client

Maximo’s only relief was cancelation of removal, which was initially denied. His private attorney didn’t do a good job preparing the evidence. Maximo’s family couldn’t afford to appeal with their private attorney because he charged too much. 

A community partner referred him to NYLAG. As lawyers, we have to make a really compelling case to ask a judge to reverse a deportation order. Even though the odds were against him, NYLAG took the case on appeal. 

We knew based on the facts that he met all four requirements to get cancellation of removal and absolutely should not be deported. We also wanted to reunite a daughter with her father. We gathered all the necessary evidence and appealed the decision. 

The appellate court agreed that Maximo met the requirements and sent the case back to the judge to reverse the deportation order. 

After 13 months in detention, Maximo was released. The reunion between Maximo and his daughter was very emotional. They cried and hugged—they didn’t want to let go of each other. After more than a year apart, she had her dad back. 

In a one-year period, we affected the lives of more than 90,000 people, and handled more than 18,000 cases for immigrants like Maximo. 

Can we count on you to be there for families like Maximo and his daughter with a donation to NYLAG?

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