Notice to Appear (NTA)
Removal proceedings begin when an individual is issued a charging document known as a Notice to Appear or “NTA”. In most cases, the NTA is issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (”ICE”). However, in some cases an NTA may be issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (”CBP”) at a port of entry or by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (”USCIS”) after denying an application for an immigration benefit such as asylum. The NTA may be served to an individual in person or by mail.
The NTA notifies an individual of the reasons the government believes an individual should be removed from the United States and in most cases advises the individual of the date, time, and place to appear for the removal proceedings. In some cases, the NTA will only state a date, time, and place “to be determined” and a notice indicating the date, time, and place of the hearing will be sent at a later date. The Notice to Appear also advises an individual of the right to have an attorney represent them at their own expense, the nature of the proceedings, and the consequences of failing to appear at any scheduled hearings.
Click Here to view a sample NTA.