Featured Issue: U.S. Immigration Courts under Trump 2.0
The U.S. immigration court system plays a critical role in upholding due process and ensuring fair hearings for individuals facing deportation. However, since January 20, 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has implemented significant changes that challenge the structural integrity of these courts. This page aims to provide up-to-date information on the policy and legal shifts affecting the U.S. immigration court system.
Latest Updates
Updates from EOIR
Browse the Featured Issue: U.S. Immigration Courts under Trump 2.0 collection
Motel 6 Agrees to Pay $10 Million in Revised Settlement for Sharing Guest Data with ICE
A federal judge granted a joint motion for final approval of a $10 million settlement in national class-action litigation on behalf of guests who stayed at a Motel 6 and whose personal information was provided by employees to ICE agents. (Jane V. et al. v. Motel 6 Operating L.P., 2/18/20)
The U.S. Resumes Returning Mexican Nationals to the Interior of Mexico
CBP reported that the number of individuals returned deep into the interior of Mexico under the Interior Repatriation Initiative (IRI) has surpassed 1,000 Mexicans.
CA1 Concludes “Recalendar” Means to Reinstate Case to Active Docket in Same Posture It Occupied Before Administrative Closure
Interpreting the word “recalendar” according to its plain meaning, the court held that the BIA acted appropriately in placing the petitioner’s case back on its docket and in proceeding from where it left off before the case was administratively closed. (Arevalo v. Barr, 2/14/20)
CA11 Remands Asylum Claim of Homosexual Muslim from Guinea Based on Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Granting the petition for review and remanding, the court concluded that the petitioner, a homosexual Muslim from Guinea, had established deficient performance by his counsel and had shown that his counsel’s deficiencies had prejudiced his case. (Sow v. Att’y Gen., 2/14/20)
BIA Holds Texas Weapon Statute Not a Firearms Offense
Unpublished BIA decision holds that carrying a weapon under Tex. Penal Code 46.02(a) is not a firearms offense. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Gomez, 2/14/20)
Motion for Extension to File Opening Brief – Sixth Circuit
Sample motion to for a 45-day extension to file opening brief for the sixth circuit court of appeals. (Miscellaneous Motion)
BIA Holds New York Weapon Statute Not a Firearms Offense
Unpublished BIA decision holds that criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree under N.Y.P.L. 265.03(3) is not a firearms offense because it could apply to loaded antique firearms. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of A-L-O-, 2/13/20)
CA4 Finds Petitioner’s Virginia Conviction for Possession of Ethylone Rendered Him Removable Under INA §237(a)(2)(B)(i)
The court held that because ethylone is a controlled substance under both Virginia and federal law, there was a categorical match between the comparable elements, and thus found that the petitioner was removable pursuant to INA §237(a)(2)(B)(i). (Bah v. Barr, 2/13/20)
EOIR Issues Policy Memo on Immigration Court Practice Manual and Orders
EOIR issued a policy memo clarifying the relationship between the Immigration Court Practice Manual (ICPM) and certain classes of orders that contradict the ICPM or applicable law, as well as rescinding several outdated Operating Policies and Procedures Memoranda.
EOIR Issues Policy Memo on Definitions and Use of Adjournment, Call-Up, and Case Identification Codes
EOIR issued a policy memo rescinding OPPM 18-02, Definitions and Use of Adjournment, Call-Up, and Case Identification Codes, dated June 8, 2018, and setting forth updated codes to track the case hearing process.
Senators Press Attorney General for Information on the Politicization and Mismanagement of U.S. Immigration Courts
On February 13, 2020, several U.S. senators sent a letter to Attorney General Barr requesting information about the training and hiring of immigration judges and the mismanagement of immigration courts in order to ensure that immigration laws are being interpreted and applied fairly and impartially.
CA3 Holds District Court Can Review Certain “Now-or-Never” Claims Brought by Detained Noncitizens
The court held that when a detained noncitizen seeks relief that a court of appeals cannot meaningfully provide on a petition for review of a final order of removal, INA §§242(a)(4) and (b)(9) do not bar consideration of those claims by a district court. (E.O.H.C. v. DHS, et al., 2/13/20)
AILA Urges House Judiciary Committee to Pass the NO BAN Act and the Access to Counsel Act of 2020
AILA submitted a statement urging the House Judiciary Committee to pass H.R. 2214, NO BAN Act, and H.R. 5581, Access to Counsel Act of 2020. These bills will limit executive authority to restrict the entry of persons into the U.S. and grant access to counsel if a person is detained an hour or more.
CA8 Finds Family Membership Was Not a Central Reason for Persecution Feared by Guatemalan Petitioner
Upholding the BIA’s denial of withholding of removal, the court concluded that there was substantial evidence to support the BIA’s finding that the petitioner’s family membership was not a central reason for the persecution she feared in Guatemala. (Silvestre-Giron v. Barr, 2/12/20)
BIA Terminates Proceedings Sua Sponte Following Vacatur of Criminal Conviction
Unpublished BIA decision reopens and terminates proceedings sua sponte after the respondent’s criminal conviction was vacated because he had not been advised of the immigration consequences of his guilty plea. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Deltoro-Aguilar, 2/12/20)
An Inside Look – Tips from a Clinical Social Worker Helping Asylum Seekers
Psychological evaluations can be hugely important for vulnerable clients' cases, but attorneys may have some questions about how best to approach having one done. In this blog post, Jocelyn Dyer shares helpful tips from Aimee Miller, a clinical social worker.
CA6 Finds BIA Reasonably Upheld Adverse Credibility Determination as to Argentinian Asylum Seeker
The court concluded that there were at least three valid evidentiary grounds for the BIA’s decision to uphold the IJ’s adverse credibility finding as to the petitioner, a citizen of Argentina who was seeking asylum, and thus denied the petition for review. (Luna-Romero v. Barr, 2/11/20)
AILA and Partners Submit Amicus Brief Urging the Sixth Circuit to Reverse the BIA’s Decision to Remove Victim of Violent Crime
AILA and partners submitted a redacted amicus brief to the Sixth Circuit requesting reversal of the BIA’s decision to deny petitioner’s motion to remand her removal proceedings so she could pursue her U visa petition.
IJ Finds First-Degree Felony Murder in Florida in 1995 Is Not a CIMT or Crime of Violence
Conducting a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT) and aggravated felony analysis under the 1995 Florida statutes, the Immigration Judge found, among other things, that first-degree felony murder is not a CIMT or a crime of violence. Courtesy of Patricia Cooper. (Matter of –, 2/10/20)
DOJ Sues King County, Washington, and King County Executive for Prohibiting ICE Contractors From Using King County International Airport
DOJ filed a lawsuit challenging King County Executive Order PFC-7-1-EO, which has the purpose and intended effect of prohibiting ICE contractors from using King County International Airport for flights to transport immigration detainees. (U.S.A. v. King County, et al., 2/10/20)
BIA Holds Misuse of a Social Security Number Not a CIMT
Unpublished BIA decision holds that misuse of a social security number under 42 U.S.C. 408(a)(7)(8) is not a CIMT because seeking to obtain a job and support one’s family is not reprehensible. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of M-E-A-, 2/10/20)
District Court Grants Class-Wide Preliminary Injunction in Case Challenging ICE Arrests at I-130 Interviews
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a class-wide preliminary injunction prohibiting federal immigration officials from arresting, detaining, or removing noncitizens with final removal orders at I-130 marriage interviews. (Sanchez, et al. v. McAleenan, et al., 2/7/20)
ICE Provides Guidance after District Court Judgment in Gonzalez v. ICE
ICE provided guidance on Gonzalez v. ICE, which declared any detainer issued by a ICE officer or agent in the Central District of California to a law enforcement agency for a member of the Probable Cause Subclass to be null and void and ordered ICE to immediately rescind all such detainers.
District Court Permanently Enjoins ICE from Relying on Inaccurate Federal Databases to Issue Detainers
A California federal court permanently enjoined ICE from issuing detainers based solely on database searches relying on information from sources lacking sufficient indicia of reliability for a probable cause determination for removal. (Roy, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al., 2/5/20)
BIA Holds Pennsylvania Possession with Intent to Deliver Not an Aggravated Felony
Unpublished BIA decision holds that possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance under 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. 780-113(a)(30) is not categorically an aggravated felony. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of G-L-C-, 2/5/20)