How long does it take for someone to be deported?

When someone is either caught in the U.S. with no documents, or is alleged to have violated the terms of a visa or green card, the U.S. government will ordinarily initiate deportation (removal) proceedings. These may lead to the person being cleared of the charges (maybe even gaining an immigration benefit), agreeing to leave voluntarily, or receiving an order of removal.

The deportation process officially begins when you receive a Notice to Appear (NTA) from immigration authorities. This may be preceded by a brief interview with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A series of hearings, often beginning with a bond hearing, usually starts two weeks later. This ends with a full hearing similar to a criminal trial where an immigration judge makes a final ruling deportation. This could take up to several months after you received an NTA.

Even if the result is deportation, the important thing for anyone facing such proceedings to know is that it doesn't happen overnight. Deportation from the U.S. involves many steps, from the initial notification, to one or more hearings, to the judge's order of removal, to the actual transport out of the country.

If you have been ordered to be deported following a deportation hearing, an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) may allow you to remain in the country while your appeal is pending.