In an unpublished decision, the Board of Immigration Appeals held that although the Respondent did not have his passport with him when he requested Voluntary Departure at his hearing, which is a requirement in the regulations, the Immigration Judge still had discretion to grant voluntary departure under the regulations if the Judge is “satisfied that the Respondent was making diligent efforts to secure the passport.”

What to do When Your Partner Threatens you with Deportation
When people come to me for help and tell me that their spouse or partner is threatening them with deportation, several things run through my