Certain foreigners in removal proceedings may be eligible for a pardon that will prevent removal. One such form of relief is Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents. This relief is for lawful permanent residents (Green Card Holders) who have had their permanent residence for five years and have acquired seven years of residence in the United States after being admitted in any status. The seven years of residence sometimes stops accruing when a removable offense is committed and always stops when a charging document from the government charging the alien with removability is given to the alien. An Immigration Judge’s decision to grant a pardon is made based on a weighing the positive and negative equities in a case.
In the case of foreigners who have been in the United States for more than ten years and have committed no crimes (with some exceptions), relief from removal may be available if the foreigner can show exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to his spouse, parent, or child who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident.
