Featured Issues

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.

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Updates from EOIR

Browse the Featured Issue: U.S. Immigration Courts under Trump 2.0 collection
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Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA2 Addresses Seizure and Exclusion of Evidence under Lopez-Mendoza

The court concluded that the petitioners were not seized within the meaning of the fourth amendment, so it need not consider what role race played in the stop or whether it was sufficiently egregious to justify suppression. (Pinto-Montoya v. Mukasey, 8/26/08)

8/26/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100760. Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA1 Finds BIA Erred in Finding Firm Resettlement

The court remanded the case to the BIA to determine the significance of an expired residence stamp in Petitioner’s passport, and whether it constituted an offer of permanent residence in a third country. (Bonilla v. Mukasey, 8/25/08)

8/25/08 AILA Doc. No. 08101469. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements

Big Surprise - Operation Scheduled Departure a Bust

To the surprise of no one, ICE announced today that, due to lack of interest, it would not be continuing its “Operation Scheduled Departure," which asked people who had been subject to a final order of deportation to turn themselves in for removal.

8/22/08 AILA Doc. No. 08082275. Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA3 Remands for Ineffective Assistance and Claim Based on New International Treaty

The court found that Petitioner sufficiently addressed the steps under Lozada to proceed with his ineffective assistance claim and remanded for the BIA to consider how U.S. law complies with the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. (Rranci v. Att’y Gen. of the U.S., 8/22/08)

8/22/08 AILA Doc. No. 08101465. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA2 Refuses to Review Reinstatement Order

The court held that Garcia-Villeda forecloses a challenge to the reinstatement regulations and found that a collateral attack on a prior reinstatement order is statutorily barred. (Miller v. Mukasey, 8/21/08)

8/21/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100669. Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases

BIA Finds Parent’s Period of Residence Cannot be Imputed to Child

The BIA held that the period when the foreign national resided as an unemancipated minor child with his LPR father cannot be imputed in order to satisfy the seven-year residence requirement for cancellation of removal under INA §240A(a)(2). Matter of Ramirez-Vargas, 24 I&N Dec. 599 (BIA 2008)

8/20/08 AILA Doc. No. 08093075. Cancellation, Suspension & 212(c), Removal & Relief
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

ICE Scheduled Departure Fact Sheet and Brochure

On 7/30/08, ICE released a Fact Sheet on Scheduled Departure, an ICE program encouraging those with final orders of deportation turn themselves in for removal. A brochure follows the Fact Sheet.

8/19/08 AILA Doc. No. 08081966. Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA9 Remands Sierra Leonean Case for Consideration of Humanitarian Asylum

CA9 upheld the finding that country conditions that affected Petitioner in Sierra Leone had improved. The court, however, rejected the BIA’s discretionary denial of humanitarian asylum, finding that the failed to consider the harm to Petitioner’s family. (Sowe v. Mukasey, 8/19/08)

8/19/08 AILA Doc. No. 08101466. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA9 Finds BIA Cannot Cure Legal Error in Later Motion to Reopen

The court held that the BIA erred as a matter of law when it construed that Petitioner’s properly raised CAT claim was abandoned, and that the BIA could not cure this legal error in its subsequent consideration of Petitioner’s motion to reopen. (Doissaint v. Mukasey, 8/18/08)

8/18/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100761. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA9 Denies MTR of Iranian Who Claimed Conversion to Christianity

CA9 upheld denial of a motion to reopen for adjustment of status, finding that it was rightly rejected as barred by the 90-day deadline, as well as the rejection of the claim of changed circumstances in Iran, finding that the new evidence was not material. (Toufighi v. Mukasey, 8/18/08)

8/18/08 AILA Doc. No. 08101468. Adjustment of Status, Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements, Memo & Regulatory Comments

AILF and AILA Comment on EOIR’S Proposed Rule on “Streamlining”

Comments on proposed rule, “Board of Immigration Appeals: Affirmance Without Opinion, Referral for Panel Review, and Publication of Decisions as Precedents,” including the need for federal court oversight over AWO procedures and objections to two permanent BIA members issuing precedent decisions.

8/18/08 AILA Doc. No. 08082174. Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements

Enough! AILA Decries Detainee's Death While in ICE Custody

AILA decries the reported circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Hiu Lui Ng while in ICE custody, the result of policies and a culture that have led to the abandonment of responsible law enforcement in favor of a pretext of enforcement of a broken system.

8/15/08 AILA Doc. No. 08081562. Detention & Bond, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA2 Rejects Changed Personal Circumstances for MTR

The court found that the BIA did not abuse its discretion in denying Petitioners’ motions to reopen, finding the birth of additional children to be a change in personal circumstances, not country conditions under 8 CFR §1003.2(c)(3)(ii). (Jin v. Mukasey, 8/15/08)

8/15/08 AILA Doc. No. 08101464. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA8 Denies Asylum to Nigerian Christian Soccer Player, Upholds MTR Denial

The court held that there was substantial evidence to support the finding that Petitioner did not suffer past persecution because he did not know who shot him and did not report the shooting.(Alanwoko v. Mukasey, 8/14/08)

8/14/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100666. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA8 Finds Delay in Asylum Filing Does Not Impact Severity of Persecution

The court held that the evidence of arrests, threats and beatings compelled a finding of past persecution. The court disagreed with the IJ’s reasoning that the abuse suffered was rendered less significant because Petitioner did not seek asylum earlier.(Cooke v. Mukasey, 8/14/08)

8/14/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100667. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA7 Upholds Adverse Credibility Finding, Denies Sierra Leonean Asylum Case

The court rejected Petitioner’s arguments that 1) the IJ erred in refusing to admit country reports, 2) the BIA erred by taking administrative notice of a 1993 country report, and 3) the IJ exhibited bias. (Sankoh v. Mukasey, 8/13/08)

8/13/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100665. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA4 Remands Asylum Case Due to Confidentiality Breach and Due Process Denial

CA4 found that petitioner's right to confidentiality under 8 CFR §208.6 was violated and that she should be given the chance to present new claims based on this breach. The court held that the IJ’s consideration of a DOS letter violated her due process rights. (Anim v. Mukasey, 8/11/08)

8/11/08 AILA Doc. No. 08091666. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

80 Arrested During ICE-led Operation in Massachusetts

ICE reports that in an effort to target gang members, 80 people were arrested in Massachusetts by an ICE-led operation. Among those arrested were 55 Legal Permanent Residents. According to ICE, all arrested had criminal records.

8/8/08 AILA Doc. No. 08080843. Removal & Relief
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

CBP Releases Memo and Muster on Temporary I-551 ADIT Stamp for Paroled LPRs

CBP released a memo and muster on temporary I-551 ADIT stamp for LPRs paroled for completion of inspection or released for removal hearing. The documents are entirely redacted.

8/8/08 AILA Doc. No. 19082312. Admissions & Border, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases

BIA Finds IJ Erred in Denying Continuance Based on Priority Date Retrogression

The BIA sustains appeal and grants motion to remand after IJ denied request for continuance due to visa retrogression, remanding for additional fact finding as to whether the respondent was grandfathered under section 245(i) Courtesy of Christopher Helt.

Cases & Decisions, DOJ/EOIR Cases

Attorney General to Review Right to Effective Counsel

The Attorney General directed the BIA to refer to him for review three cases involving Lozada standards with respect to ineffective assistance to counsel and requested amici briefs on several related issues.

8/7/08 AILA Doc. No. 08081361. Ethics, Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA8 Holds No Constitutional Right to Effective Assistance of Counsel

The court held that there was no constitutional right under the Fifth Amendment to effective assistance of counsel in removal proceedings and that the BIA did not abuse its discretion when it refused to reopen Petitioner’s asylum case.(Rafiyev v. Mukasey, 8/5/08)

8/5/08 AILA Doc. No. 08100668. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief
Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

ICE Announces Program to Ask People to Turn Themselves In

ICE announces a pilot program it dubs "Scheduled Departure" to ask those with final orders of deportation to turn themselves in for removal.

8/1/08 AILA Doc. No. 08080160. Removal & Relief
AILA Public Statements

ICE in the Realm of the Bizarre

Yesterday’s announcement by ICE of a program to encourage the undocumented to report for deportation is the latest bit of strangeness in the increasing loss of rationality in the way the U.S. deals with immigration.

8/1/08 AILA Doc. No. 08073163. Removal & Relief
Cases & Decisions, Federal Court Cases

CA8 Upholds Denial of Withholding Based on Fear of FGM to US Citizen Child

The court held that a parent may not bring a derivative claim for withholding based upon the fact that her child would be subjected to future persecution. (Gumaneh v. Mukasey, 8/1/08)

8/1/08 AILA Doc. No. 08091665. Asylum & Refugees, Removal & Relief