## Cancellation of removal in Tennessee **Cancellation of removal** is one of the most important forms of relief in immigration court. It allows certain immigrants to: - Avoid deportation - Obtain (or retain) lawful permanent residence (green card) Two distinct forms exist with very different requirements. ## Two types of cancellation **1. Cancellation for Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR cancellation)** — INA § 240A(a) **2. Cancellation for Non-Permanent Residents** — INA § 240A(b)(1) Plus a special **VAWA Cancellation** for abuse victims — INA § 240A(b)(2). ## LPR cancellation — INA § 240A(a) **Eligibility (all required):** 1. **Lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years** (continuously) 2. **7 years continuous residence** in U.S. after lawful admission in any status 3. **No aggravated felony** conviction **Critical "stop-time rule":** - Both the 5-year LPR period and 7-year residence period STOP accruing upon: - Service of NTA (Notice to Appear), OR - Commission of certain offenses - This is why TIMING matters **Discretionary factors considered:** - Family ties in U.S. - Length of residence - Employment history - Property + business ties - Service in armed forces - Service to community - Rehabilitation evidence - Hardship to self / family **Negative factors:** - Criminal record (especially recent) - Immigration violations - Fraud / misrepresentation - Lack of rehabilitation ## Non-LPR cancellation — INA § 240A(b)(1) **Eligibility (all required):** 1. **10 years of continuous physical presence** 2. **Good moral character** during the 10 years 3. **Not convicted of certain offenses** (CIMTs, controlled substance, certain firearms, etc.) 4. **Exceptional and extremely unusual hardship** to qualifying U.S. citizen / LPR relative (spouse, parent, child) **"Exceptional and extremely unusual hardship"** — VERY HIGH STANDARD: - Higher than "extreme hardship" - Cumulative effect of multiple factors - Children with serious medical needs - Special-needs children dependent on U.S. services - No realistic options in home country - Severe educational disruption **Examples that often qualify:** - Child with significant medical condition requiring U.S. care - Severely disabled qualifying relative - Country conditions that would shock conscience - Multiple cumulative factors creating unusual situation **Examples that usually DON'T qualify alone:** - Lower wages in home country - Family separation (this is normal) - Children adjusting to new culture / language - Loss of property - Less educational quality **4,000 annual cap on non-LPR cancellation.** Backlog of approved cases waiting for visa numbers. ## VAWA cancellation — INA § 240A(b)(2) **For battered spouses / children of U.S. citizens or LPRs:** 1. **3 years continuous physical presence** 2. **Good moral character** 3. **Not deportable for criminal grounds** 4. **Battered or subjected to extreme cruelty** by USC / LPR spouse / parent 5. **Hardship if removed** (lower standard than non-LPR) Provides path to green card outside abusive relationship without abuser's cooperation. ## Stop-time rule details **Crucial timing question:** When does residence "clock" stop? **Stops upon:** 1. **Service of NTA** (Notice to Appear) 2. **Commission of certain offenses** (10-year clock for non-LPR; 7-year clock for LPR) **Pereira v. Sessions (2018)** + **Niz-Chavez v. Garland (2021)** — Supreme Court rulings: - NTA without time / place doesn't trigger stop-time rule - Two NTAs (one without info, one with) doesn't satisfy single-document requirement - May allow more clients to qualify - Active litigation continues ## Common challenges **Continuous physical presence:** - Must be continuous for required period - 90+ day single trip OR 180+ day cumulative trips break continuity - Brief, casual, innocent trips OK - INS / ICE encounters can break it **Good moral character (GMC):** - Defined by INA § 101(f) - Statutory bars (murder, aggravated felonies, etc.) - Discretionary considerations beyond bars - Recent improvement insufficient **Disqualifying offenses:** - Aggravated felonies (LPR cancel barred) - Crimes Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMTs) - Controlled substance offenses - Firearms offenses - Immigration fraud ## Process 1. **Placed in removal proceedings** (NTA filed with court) 2. **Appear at Master Calendar Hearing** (initial) 3. **Plead to charges + indicate relief** sought 4. **File Form EOIR-42A** (LPR) or **EOIR-42B** (non-LPR) 5. **Submit biometrics** 6. **Prepare case** — declarations, country conditions, expert reports, documents 7. **Individual Hearing** (merits trial) 8. **Judge decision** 9. **Appeal options** (BIA → Federal Court of Appeals) ## Annual cap (non-LPR cancellation) **4,000 grants per year** under INA § 240A(e): - Approved cases get "reserve" decisions - Final grant requires available visa number - Backlog can be 1-3+ years after approval - Continued employment authorization during wait ## Strategic considerations **For LPRs:** - Priority is often building 5/7-year clocks before NTA - Discretionary case strong with positive equities - Aggravated felonies are absolute bar **For non-LPRs:** - 10-year clock is strict - Hardship standard is THE main hurdle - Usually need significant evidence (medical, educational, country conditions) - Children often the qualifying relative **If denied:** - Appeal to BIA - Federal court review - Other forms of relief (asylum, withholding, CAT, U-visa, etc.) - Voluntary departure preserves future options ## Resources - **EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review)** — runs immigration courts - **AILA** — American Immigration Lawyers Association - **ABA's Commission on Immigration** - **National Immigration Justice Center** - **CLINIC (Catholic Legal Immigration Network)** - **ImmigrantConfidence.com / ImmigrationLawHelp.org** — find legal aid ## What you should do If you're in removal proceedings in Tennessee: hire an experienced immigration attorney immediately. Cancellation of removal cases are won or lost on preparation. Long detention can hurt your case. Free / low-cost help may be available through Tennessee immigration legal-aid programs (Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services, local non-profits). NEVER accept voluntary departure or removal without consulting counsel — even if eligibility looks weak, you may have other options. --- *This guide is general information about U.S. federal immigration law as of early 2026 and is not legal advice. Cancellation of removal is technical + fact-specific. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney or qualified non-profit about your specific case.*