Credible Fear vs. Reasonable Fear in Asylum Immigration Cases

According to the American Immigration Council, non-citizens who are either discovered by, or appear before, a U.S. official “at a port of entry or near the border can be deported quickly in an ‘expedited removal’ process.” The United States is required to comply with domestic and international laws which gives asylum seekers the right to…

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Read Documents before You Sign Them

Oral agreements may work in some situations – often more informal situations – and may have worked in the past, but you should read written documents you receive from the other party before you sign them. You also should understand the agreement that you are entering before you sign written documents. Written documents always are…

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The Right of Defendants to Confront Witnesses

The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides rights for those accused of a crime. These rights include the right of the accused “to be confronted with the witnesses against him…” This part of the Amendment is known at the “confrontation” clause. It generally means that someone accused of a crime can cross-examine any of…

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Show Up for Court

In Tennessee, General Sessions Court is the small claims court.  General Sessions Courts hear civil cases and are usually the first court where a criminal defendant appears.  A civil case is a lawsuit about money, evictions, and the like.  A criminal case can lead to jail time or fines.  There is a General Sessions Court…

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Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

The terms “sex-based discrimination” and “sexual harassment” carry legal significance. Sex discrimination occurs when one or more people are discriminated against on the basis of sex or gender. Examples of sex discrimination include men and women working under different conditions, earning unequal pay, and facing different hiring and promotion requirements. Sexual harassment occurs when one…

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If Immigration Authorities Come Knocking, You Have Rights

Undocumented workers encounter numerous challenges on a day-to-day basis. Many times they face the fear of losing their livelihood and worse – separation from their families. The difficult process of not knowing what to do in the face of potential detection by immigration authorities hangs over their heads. Understand, even if you are not a…

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Tennessee’s DUI Statistics

DUI statistics are always grim. 2017 was no different. According to a Tennessee Highway Patrol announcement, the THP put extra time, officers and money into ensuring that this holiday travel is safe. One of the goals for the year was to cut down on drunk driving. Between January 1 and December 24, 2017, THP officials…

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Returning to the U.S. After You Have Been Removed by ICE

Now, President Trump appoints the Secretary of Homeland Security, the U.S. government department over Citizenship & Immigration Services (CIS), Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). During the 2016 presidential election campaign, then-candidate Trump uttered harsh words about immigration and immigrants. When he became President, he has followed through on his…

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What You Should Know about Temporary Protected Status in America

In the U.S., certain countries are designated as Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The designation is awarded when circumstances make it impossible to guarantee that foreign nationals could return to their home country safely. The Secretary of Homeland Security makes or removes the designation. The Secretary may designate a country for TPS due to the following…

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Legal Remedies for Owners of Used Cars

Cars and personal motor vehicles are a necessity in Tennessee and elsewhere in the United States.  We use them for transportation to work, to school, to the grocery store, to doctor visits, to sporting events, to church services, and more.  Often, individuals purchase used cars and vehicles, which too often are riddled with serious problems,…

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