Print this Page

Glossary of Immigration Terms & Legal Terms Begining with D

Damages

Money that a defendant pays a plaintiff in a civil case if the plaintiff has won. Damages may be compensatory (for loss or injury) or punitive (to punish and deter future misconduct).

De Facto

Latin, meaning "in fact" or "actually." Something that exists in fact but not as a matter of law.

De Jure

Latin, meaning "in law." Something that exists by operation of law.

De Novo

Latin, meaning "anew." A trial de novo is a completely new trial. Appellate review de novo implies no deference to the trial judge's ruling.

Debtor

A person who has filed a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. defendant An individual (or business) against whom a lawsuit is filed.

Debtor's Plan

A debtor's detailed description of how the debtor proposes to pay creditors' claims over a fixed period of time.

Declaratory Judgment

A judge's statement about someone's rights. For example, a plaintiff may seek a declaratory judgment that a particular statute, as written, violates some constitutional right.

Default Judgment

A judgment awarding a plaintiff the relief sought in the complaint because the defendant has failed to appear in court or otherwise respond to the complaint.

Defendant

In a civil case, the person or organization against whom the plaintiff brings suit; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.

Deferred Inspection

A parolee is an alien, appearing to be inadmissible to the inspecting officer, allowed into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or when that alien's entry is determin
[ read more on Deferred Inspection ]

Denomination/Sect

From travel.state.gov A religious group or community.

Department of Homeland Security

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). From travel.state.gov DHS is comprised of three main organizations responsible for immigration policies, procedures, implementat
[ read more on Department of Homeland Security ]

Department of Labor

From travel.state.gov A cabinet level unit/ministry of United States Government that has responsibility for labor issues. It has responsibility for deciding whether certain foreign work
[ read more on Department of Labor ]

Department of State

The United States Department of State (DOS)

Deportable Alien

An alien in and admitted to the United States subject to any grounds of removal specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes any alien illegally in the United States,
[ read more on Deportable Alien ]

Deportation

The formal removal of an alien from the United States when the alien has been found removable for violating the immigration laws. Deportation is ordered by an immigration judge without
[ read more on Deportation ]

Deposition

An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later
[ read more on Deposition ]

Derivative Citizenship

Citizenship conveyed to children through the naturalization of parents or, under certain circumstances, to foreign-born children adopted by U.S. citizen parents, provided certain condit
[ read more on Derivative Citizenship ]

Derivative Status

From travel.state.gov Getting a status (visa) through another applicant, as provided under immigration law for certain visa categories. For example, the spouse and children of an exchan
[ read more on Derivative Status ]

DHS

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Discharge

A release of a debtor from personal liability for certain dischargeable debts. Notable exceptions to dischargeability are taxes and student loans. A discharge releases a debtor from per
[ read more on Discharge ]

Dischargeable Debt

A debt for which the Bankruptcy Code allows the debtor's personal liability to be eliminated.

Disclosure Statement

A written document prepared by the chapter 11 debtor or other plan proponent that is designed to provide "adequate information" to creditors to enable them to evaluate the cha
[ read more on Disclosure Statement ]

Discovery

Procedures used to obtain disclosure of evidence before trial.

Dismissal with Prejudice

Court action that prevents an identical lawsuit from being filed later.

Dismissal without Prejudice

Court action that allows the later filing.

Disposable Income

Income not reasonably necessary for the maintenance or support of the debtor or dependents. If the debtor operates a business, disposable income is defined as those amounts over and abo
[ read more on Disposable Income ]

District

Geographic areas into which the United States and its territories are divided for the Immigration and Naturalization Service's field operations or one of three overseas offices loc
[ read more on District ]

Diversity

A category of immigrants replacing the earlier categories for nationals of underrepresented countries and countries adversely "affected" by the Immigration and Nationality Act Amendment
[ read more on Diversity ]

Diversity Visa Program

The Department of State has an annual lottery for immigration to the United States. Up to 55,000 immigrants can enter the United States each year from countries with low rates of immigr
[ read more on Diversity Visa Program ]

Docket

A log containing the complete history of each case in the form of brief chronological entries summarizing the court proceedings.

Docket Control

The DHS mechanism for tracking the case status of potentially removable aliens.

Documentarily Qualified

From travel.state.gov Refers to an immigrant visa applicant who has: 1) returned Form DS 2001 (from the Instruction Package) to visa-issuing post (or in some cases, to the National Visa
[ read more on Documentarily Qualified ]

DOL

From travel.state.gov Department of Labor. Hiring foreign workers for employment in the U.S. normally requires approval from several government agencies. First, employers must seek labo
[ read more on DOL ]

Domicile

From travel.state.gov Place where a person has his or her principal residence. The person must intend to keep that residence for the foreseeable future. The sponsor of an immigrant must
[ read more on Domicile ]

DOS

The United States Department of State (DOS)

Due Process

In criminal law, the constitutional guarantee that a defendant will receive a fair and impartial trial. In civil law, the legal rights of someone who confronts an adverse action threate
[ read more on Due Process ]

Duration of Status

From travel.state.gov In certain visa categories such as diplomats, students and exchange visitors, the alien may be admitted into the U.S. for as long as the person is still doing the
[ read more on Duration of Status ]

DV

From travel.state.gov See Diversity Visa.