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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"A Lawyer You Can Truly Trust"
I highly recommend Meaders Law PLLC. Alexandra is a great attorney with impressive credentials! She is meticulous, empathetic and always provides the best level service. You can trust her to keep you updated with any new developments in your case. She’ll always have your best interests in mind. Her paralegals are excellent too!

- A. R.
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Attorney Meaders was great! Very professional and straightforward. She helped with my Father in-laws immigration issue and kept a constant line of communication in a time where my family was very overwhelmed. Great attorney and I recommend this law office to anyone in need!

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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.

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Alexandra is a gifted attorney with a demonstrated history of obtaining positive results for clients. My opinion is based on both personal and professional experience. Professionally, Alexandra and I met during law school almost four years ago. Upon meeting her, I was impressed with her language skills, cultural fluency, and professional demeanor. These skills served well then and now. These natural abilities allowed her firm to grow into the successful practice it is today. From a personal standpoint, she was there to assist when I called for her opinion regarding my girlfriend's visa issue. As a corporate attorney, I lacked the subject matter expertise and needed someone with experience on such matters.. We discussed the matter in detail based off my initial research. Again, I was impressed with her ability to navigate the complex areas of law with ease. She was up to date on all changes in the law and the best courses of action. It is evident Alexandra is a seasoned attorney with the know-how to get results.

- J. P.
"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.
"Exceptional and Professional"
Alexandra Meaders at MEADERS Law is an exceptional attorney. I had a very good experience with her and my case and would strongly recommend her to anyone needing her services or consultation. She takes pride in her office staff being very professional and helpful regarding my case. I’m very appreciative of her and her hard work.

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"Prompt & Efficient"
Alexandra is helping us with a time-sensitive, stressful Green Card situation. She acted very promptly and was very efficient and clear with the steps that needed to be taken. She was very reassuring and helped reduce the stress of the whole experience!

- A. W.
"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.

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