The immigration courts are doing something new, and if you have a pending immigration case, you need

The immigration courts are doing something new, and if you have a pending immigration case, you need to know about it right now. ⚠️ Across the country, immigration courts are scheduling what many attorneys are calling “mega master calendar hearings,” with more than one hundred people assigned to a single morning docket. That’s a dramatic increase from the thirty to fifty people who would typically be scheduled for these hearings. 🚨 What’s especially concerning is that many immigrants are seeing hearings that were originally scheduled years in the future suddenly moved up with little warning. If you miss that hearing because you never received notice or didn’t know about the change, the judge can issue an in absentia order, which is an automatic deportation order based solely on your absence. 📄 For people with attorneys, there is some encouraging news. Many of these mega hearings are being canceled or modified for represented individuals, and some applicants are being moved directly to merits hearings where they can fully present their asylum claims. ⚖️ There are also strategic reasons to take these hearings seriously. DHS can file a motion to pretermit, which is an attempt to deny your case before you ever receive a full hearing on the merits. In the past, immigration enforcement operations have also taken place at courthouses, making it even more important to understand exactly what is happening in your case. 📝 There are two things you should do immediately. First, make sure your address is updated with the immigration court system. Second, check your case status online regularly using your A-number and country of citizenship. Hearing dates can change much faster than many people realize. If you need help with an asylum case or help getting a loved one out of immigration detention, send the word “CONSULT” in a direct message.