Affirmative Asylum & Defensive Asylum Attorney Your Legal Needs are Our Priority.

Dallas Affirmative Asylum & Defensive Asylum Lawyer

Seeking asylum can be a complex and emotionally charged process. No matter if you’re navigating the affirmative asylum process or find yourself in need of defensive asylum, Meaders Law PLLC is here to offer comprehensive and personalized legal support. Our experienced team recognizes the importance of securing a safe and stable future for you and your family, and our attorney can walk you through the process and advocate passionately on your behalf.

What Is the Difference Between a Refugee & an Asylum Seeker?

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a refugee is “a person outside his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”

Asylum seekers, also known as asylees, need to meet the same requirements as refugees—and the only distinction between the two is location. Asylees are already in the United States or present at a port of entry. This difference necessitates two unique application processes.

If you are seeking asylum, call our firm today at (888) 203-1706. We offer legal services in English and Spanish.

Understanding Affirmative & Defensive Asylum

Affirmative asylum refers to the process where individuals proactively apply for asylum through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) without being in removal proceedings. This route is typically accessible to individuals who are physically present in the United States, regardless of how they arrived or their current immigration status, provided they submit their application within one year of their last arrival.

The process involves filing Form I-589, attending an interview with an asylum officer, and proving that they are unable or unwilling to return to their home country due to past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Affirmative asylum seekers are often at an advantage as they have more time to prepare their case, gather evidence, and are not detained during the process.

On the other hand, defensive asylum arises in the context of removal proceedings. This option is for an individual facing deportation but claims asylum as a defense against removal from the United States. Individuals can end up in defensive asylum proceedings after being apprehended in the U.S. without legal status or after an affirmative asylum application has been denied and referred to the Immigration Court by the USCIS.

The defensive asylum process can be significantly adversarial—involving a formal court hearing before an immigration judge where the individual and their attorney must present evidence and argue their case against a government attorney. The burden of proof remains the same as in affirmative asylum cases, but the stakes are notably higher given the immediate risk of deportation.

While this lays out the major differences between the two types of asylum, it’s important to note that no two cases are the same, so having an attorney on your side who understands your unique situation and potential roadblocks can be an incredible asset in navigating the process.

How Meaders Law PLLC Can Help

Our Dallas affirmative and defensive asylum lawyer can play a pivotal role in the asylum-seeking process, offering not just legal guidance but also compassionate support during a critical time. Our firm can help you understand the complexities of immigration law, ensuring your application or defense is as strong as possible.

We guide you through every step of the process—from meticulously preparing your case and gathering essential evidence to representing you in interviews or court hearings. At Meaders Law PLLC, we are deeply committed to standing with our clients, championing their rights and dignity, and striving to ensure their voices are heard in their pursuit of protection.

Call our team today at (888) 203-1706 or reach out online to schedule a consultation.

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"She Fought and Won for Us"
This is a great law firm. The communication they keep on their end is amazing. She will fight till the end for you and she showed that today helping my father get his residency today. It was a long discouraging battle and she kept hope and won. If you’re looking for an immigration lawyer this is the place to go to. I promise you, your money will be worth it.

- E. R.
"Confident, Skilled, and Victorious"
I had the honor of having Attorney Alexandria Meaders represent my husband in his case against ICE and let me just say, I was blown away! Her communication with me made me feel confident about the entire situation. She’s extremely educated and knows exactly what she is doing. Not only did she win my husband’s case but she got an even lower than expected bond for him!! Her confidence while representing my husband was such a sight to see. I will definitely come back to her if ever the situation calls for her expertise. I highly recommend attorney Meaders to anyone looking for strong and professional representation.

- M. D.
"Results-Driven and Reliable"
Alexander has been an exceptional attorney. She made herself available for any questions and was responsive in a timely manner. With her, it's all positive results. She wins every case, no matter how tough. I strongly recommend Meaders Law LLC.

- Q. J.
"I highly recommend Attorney Meaders"
She helped my family and I get back together. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking for a criminal and immigration lawyer!!

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"Grateful Beyond Words"
My family and I are forever grateful for Mrs Meaders and her hard work. I recently found myself in a dire situation and needed an immigration attorney who was going to fight for me. Mrs Meaders did that for me and more. I am so grateful that she kept lines of communication open with my family and answered all the questions we had in a timely and respectful manner. She is very knowledgeable and very helpful. My family hired Mrs Meaders and the very next day she went to work on my case. She was always honest and showed that she cared about my situation. (Our previous attorney lied and scammed my family out of money) I know from experience that Mrs Meaders will work hard for all her clients because she is passionate about her work. I am now able to obtain my citizenship after being told by one attorney that the best way he could “help” was to ask the judge for a voluntary departure. Also, because of Mrs Meaders’ hard work I have been reunited with my children and family. If you are needing an attorney who is going to work hard for you, who is professional and highly competent, Mrs Meaders is the attorney for you and she is the best!

- A. S.
"Devoted to her casework"
Extremely pleased with Alexandra Meaders. It is very clear she is devoted to her casework and really cares about her clients. I would highly recommend reaching out to Alexandra and her team.

- D. V.
"First Choice and Best Choice"
Alexandra was the first immigration lawyer I went with and would recommend her to anyone! I worked with them for two years. They were honest with their work and accurate with their time frames. Maria and Diana were kind and always quick to respond to any questions I may have had. Loved working with them!

- L. H.
"Went above & beyond"
Alexandra passionately works to defend and protect her clients, often going above and beyond what is required. I have personally witnessed this. I saw her put everything on the line to defend a client who needed her help. And she works extremely hard. She is always prepared. She knows immigration proceedings and litigation up and down. Strongly recommend her to someone looking for an immigration attorney.

- A. D.

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