Facts:  Mr. L fled his native Honduras after he was shot 5 times by local gangs who retaliated against him for failing to pay extortion fees. After arriving in the U.S., he met and married his wife, who is a lawful permanent resident and who can petition for Mr. L to remain in the U.S. to ensure their family's necessary unity.

Legal assessment:  Mr. L is eligible to apply for a green card based on his marriage, and needs an attorney to help him and his wife file a family-based petition for him. Mr. L is currently in removal proceedings and his next hearing, a master calendar hearing, is in February 2019.

A master calendar hearing (MCH) is the first appearance that happens in an immigration case. It is at this appearance that the Immigration Judge (IJ) accepts pleadings. For those who are familiar with criminal court, it has been likened procedurally to an arraignment.