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
CIS Ombudsman Issues Recommendations on Processing of Waivers of Inadmissibility
The CIS Ombudsman issued recommendations to the Director of USCIS on the processing of waivers of inadmissibility to enhance the current filing process and minimize reluctance to file.
CA2 Interprets “Previously” as Used in INA §212(h)
The court held that under §212(h), the term “previously” refers to an alien who has been admitted to the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident at any time in the past, not merely upon the most recent admission. (Dobrova v. Holder, 6/9/10)
Assistant Secretary Morton Announces Internal Realignment of ICE Offices
Assistant Secretary Morton announced that ICE will realign its offices to promote criminal investigations over deportation. The three new directorates are: Homeland Security Investigations (HIS), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), and Management and Administration.
BIA Finds Antique Firearm Exception is Affirmative Defense in Removal Proceedings
The BIA vacated and remanded, finding that in removal proceedings, the antique firearm exception is an affirmative defense that must be sufficiently raised by an alien charged under INA § 237(a)(2)(C). Matter of Mendez-Orellana, 25 I&N Dec. 254 (BIA 2010)
USCIS Draft Memo for Comment on Guidance on Uniform Denial Language Pertaining to BIA Appeals
USCIS issued a draft memo for comment on guidance to USCIS officers on uniform denial language pertaining to appeals to the BIA, revising AFM Chapter 10.7(b). Comments are due 6/21/10. This document includes comment submission instructions and the draft memorandum.
CA8 Grants Rehearing to Review Continuance Denial Following Kucana Decision
CA8 granted petition for panel rehearing and vacated part of its prior opinion, finding that it now has jurisdiction to consider petitioner’s challenge to denial of his motion for continuance under Kucana v. Holder. (Hernandez v. Holder, 6/4/10)
CA8 Applies Hassan Case Precedent in Denial of FGM Asylum Case
CA8 held that, in light of adverse credibility findings and lack of corroborating evidence to establish identity, petitioner could not satisfy burden of proof to show FGM occurred "on account of her membership" in a protected category. (Fesehaye v. Holder, 6/4/10)
FL Man Who Served in Bosnian Serb Military during the Bosnian Conflict Leaves U.S. Following Denaturalization
A former member of the Bosnian Serb Army has left the U.S. to return to Serbia after a federal judge ordered his denaturalization based on concealment during his application for U.S. citizenship that he served in the military during the Bosnian war.
CA3 Remands Asylum Case on Imputed Political Opinion
The court remanded the asylum case, finding that the BIA’s conclusion that FARC’s threats were not motivated by a political opinion imputed to petitioner was not supported by substantial evidence. (Espinosa-Cortez v. U.S. Att'y Gen., 6/2/10)
AILA Comments on the Online Detainee Locator System
AILA submitted a comment regarding the Online Detainee Locator System (ODLS) and suggested modifications to be made prior to deployment of the new system.
Immigration Law Advisor, May 2010 (Vol. 4, No. 5)
Immigration Law Advisor, a EOIR legal publication, with an article on expert witnesses in immigration proceedings, federal court activity for April 2010, recent BIA precedent decisions, and a regulatory update.
DOJ OIL May 2010 Litigation Bulletin
DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation released its May 2010 Bulletin, which covers topics including a review of AG’s discretionary waiver decisions, review of AG’s discretionary waiver decisions and the Adverse Credibility Project update.
First ICE Charter Lands in Iraq
ICE Detention and Removal Operations, in a charter flight to the Middle East, which made stops in Cape Verde, Lebanon and, for the first time, Iraq, removed 31 men with final orders of removal.
CA1 Affirms BIA Denial of Motion to Reopen to Adjust Status
The court held that the BIA acted within its discretion in denying petitioner’s motion to reopen to adjust status based on his well-documented credibility problems. (Chi v. Holder, 5/26/10)
CA9 Remands Asylum Case on China’s Population Control Policy
CA remanded, holding that petitioner suffered persecution for demonstrating other resistance to China’s coercive population control policy and deferred to AG’s INA interpretation in J-S- on spouses of victims of such policies. (Jiang v. Holder, 5/24/10)
ICE Releases List of Detainee Deaths from October 2003 through May 2010
On the ICE FOIA Reading Room, the agency released a list of detainee deaths from October 2003 through May 2010. During that period, 111 people died in ICE custody, according to the list.
TRAC Report: Immigration Case Backlog Continues to Grow
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) issued a report finding that the number of cases awaiting resolution before the immigration courts reached 242,776 matters at the end of March 2010. The average length of time cases have been waiting increased to 443 days.
CA11 on Status Investigation Pursuant to I-130 Petition AER
The court found that immigration authorities, with the information provided by respondent’s wife through an Additional Evidence Request (AER) to a I-130 petition, acted with reasonable diligence in investigating respondent’s status. (United States v. Garcia, 5/21/10)
CA1 on Ineffective Assistance of Counsel and Exceptional Circumstances
The court upheld the denial of the motion to rescind the in absentia order where notice of the hearing was sent only to the attorney, and the attorney spoke to Petitioner’s wife, but did not directly inform Petitioner of the hearing date. (Reis v. Holder, 5/21/10)
BIA Holds Matter of Lozada Substantially Satisfied Where Prior Attorney Now Deceased
In an unpublished decision, the BIA granted a motion to reopen an in absentia order of deportation based on Matter of Lozada. BIA found Matter of Lozada substantially satisfied where prior attorney is now deceased. Courtesy of Geoffrey A. Hoffman.
Former CBP Officer Indicted for Taking Bribes From Foreign Restaurant Workers
A former CBP supervisor at Midway Airport has been indicted for allegedly taking about $52,000 in bribes to allow foreign employees of three area restaurants to extend their stays in the United States. (U.S. v. Mann, 5/20/10)
BIA on Burden of Proof under §101(a)(13)(C)(v)
In an unpublished decision, the BIA held that, for an LPR to be regarded as “seeking admission” under §101(a)(13)(C)(v), DHS must prove by clear, unequivocal, and convincing evidence that he has committed an offense identified in §212(a)(2). Courtesy of David Funke.
CA7 Denies Motion for Attorney’s Fees in Asylum Case
CA7 denied motion for attorney’s fees, finding that the “position of the United States” as used in the Equal Access to Justice Act does include the BIA’s decision and that the government’s position was substantially justified as a whole. (Gatimi v. Holder, 05/17/10)
EOIR Establishes Procedure for Filing Immigration Judge Conduct Complaints
The EOIR Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ) established a procedure that allows any person to file a complaint about the conduct of an Immigration Judge. The EOIR webpage includes links to documents on filing a complaint and processing procedures.
AILA Liaison/NBC Meeting Minutes (5/12/10)
The 5/12/10 meeting minutes address NBC’s latest updates, K visa RFEs, EAD adjudications, I-290B processing times, I-824 filings, and more.