Featured Issue: Representing Clients Before ICE
This resource page combines resources for attorneys representing clients before ICE. For information about why AILA is calling for the reduction and phasing out of immigration detention, please see our Featured Issue Page: Immigration Detention and Alternatives to Detention.
Quick Links
- Seeking Stays of Removal
- AILA Practice Pointers and Alerts (continually updated)
- Practice Advisory: Representing Detained Clients in the Virtual Landscape
- Practice Pointer: How to Locate Clients Apprehended by ICE
- Practice Pointer: Preparing for an Order of Supervision Appointment with ICE-ERO
- AILA ICE Liaison Agenda and Meeting Minutes
Communicating with OPLA, ERO, and CROs
The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) includes 1300 attorneys who represent the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in immigration removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). OPLA litigates all removal cases as well as provides legal counsel to ICE personnel. At present, there are 25 field locations throughout the United States.
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) manages all aspects of immigration enforcement from arrest, detention, and removal. ERO has 24 field office locations. ERO also manages an “alternative to detention” program that relies almost exclusively on the “Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP)” to monitor individuals in removal proceedings.
Since 2016, ICE has had an Office of Partnership and Engagement (formerly Office of Community Engagement) to be a link between the agency and stakeholders. As part of this office, Community Relations Officers (CROS) are assigned to every field office to work with local stakeholders such as attorneys and nonprofit organizations.
*Headquarters does not provide direct contact numbers or emails for individual employees.* (AILA Liaison Meeting with ICE on April 26, 2023)(AILA Doc. No. 23033004). However, attorneys can contact Chapter Local ICE Liaisons as they may have this information provided to them via local liaison engagement.
- DHS/ICE/OPLA Chief Counsel Contact Information [last updated in 2024, this list no longer appears on ICE.gov as of 1/27/25]
- Contact Information for Local OPLA Offices [last updated in 2024, this information no longer appears on ICE.gov as of 1/27/25]
- ERO Field Offices Contact Information*
- OPE Community Relations Officers
- ICE Check-In Scheduling Website
- ICE Online Change of Address Website
Latest on Enforcement Priorities & Prosecutorial Discretion
Executive Order 14159 (90 FR 8443, 1/29/25) directs DHS to set priorities that protect the public safety and national security interests of the American people, including by ensuring the successful enforcement of final orders of removal, enforcement of the INA and other Federal laws related to the illegal entry and unlawful presence of [noncitizens] in the United States and the enforcement of the purposes of this order. Given the January 25, 2025, confirmation of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, a memorandum detailing enforcement priorities may be issued in the coming weeks.
An unpublished ICE memo from acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello entitled “Interim Guidance: Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions in or near Courthouses” makes reference to targeted noncitizens and includes:
- National security or public safety threats;
- Those with criminal convictions;
- Gang members;
- Those who have been ordered removed from the United States but have failed to depart; and/or
- Those who have re-entered the country illegally after being removed.
Procedures and email inboxes created under the Biden Administration to request Prosecutorial Discretion no longer appear on the ICE website. AILA members are encouraged to review current DOJ regulations entitled “Efficient Case and Docket Management in Immigration Proceedings” for alternative basis for seeking termination or administrative closure.
Access to Counsel
- ERO eFile:
- An online system developed to electronically file G-28s with ERO. Attorneys and accredited representatives may register for ERO eFile accounts and may also sponsor law students and law graduates who work under their supervision. See AILA’s practice alert (AILA Doc. No. 24051506) for more information.
- ICE Attorney Information and Resources Page
- AILA Practice Alert: Updates to the ICE Attorney Information and Resource Page
Filing Administrative Complaints on Behalf of Detained and Formerly Detained Clients
- Online Intake Form for the Detention Ombudsman (myOIDO)
- Available for complaints for issues in ICE and CBP Custody nationwide, including to submit complaints about access to counsel problems on behalf of currently or previously detained clients.
- Online Complaint Form for DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)
- Oversight of Immigration Detention: An Overview - May 16, 2022
(provides a list of agencies with which attorneys may file administrative complaints of detention center violations) - Immigration Judge Complaint Toolkit – August 31, 2022
- Practice Alert: Template for CRCL Complaint Regarding Failures to Provide Language Access – July 16, 2021
Selected ICE Policies and Current Status
For comprehensive comparison of current and prior ICE policies, please review the “Immigration Policy Tracker (IPTP).” The IPTP is a project of Professor Lucas Guttentag working with teams of Stanford and Yale law students and leading national immigration experts.
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Browse the Featured Issue: Representing Clients Before ICE collection
CA4 Denies Chinese Religious Persecution Claim and Remands Forced Sterilization Claim
The court remanded the forced sterilization claim, as the BIA relied on the 2007 DOS China Report and did not account for the contrary evidence that parents of two U.S.-born children could face persecution in China. (Chen v. Holder, 2/5/14)
BIA Reopens Proceedings Due to Attorney Failure to Seek Relief
Unpublished BIA decision reopens proceedings due to ineffective assistance of counsel where the respondent’s prior attorney conceded failure to seek voluntary departure or administrative closure. (Matter of Barrera, 2/5/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
BIA Remands Record Due to USCIS Delay in Forwarding I-130 Appeal
Unpublished BIA decision states that when respondent in removal proceedings is separately appealing denial of I-130, any delay by USCIS in forwarding record to Board is a factor in favor of granting continuance. (Matter of Ngema, 2/5/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
EOIR Updates to Immigration Court Practice Manual
The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge alert on updates to the Table of Contents, Glossary, and Indexes of the Immigration Court Practice Manual. Updates relate to changes to lodging asylum applications in Chapters 3 and 4, and to include a definition of “lodged asylum application.”
BIA Reverses Denial of 212(k) Waiver
Unpublished BIA decision finds eligibility for 212(k) depends on applicant’s state of mind at time of initial admission rather than re-entry, and that failure to alert authorities of potential fraud is not adverse discretionary factor. (Matter of Shin, 2/4/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
BIA Recognizes Effeminate Gay Males from Mexico as Particular Social Group
Unpublished BIA decision finds effeminate gay males from Mexico with female gender identities to qualify as particular social group for purposes of asylum and withholding of removal. (Matter of M-G-O-, 2/4/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
EOIR Adds Country Conditions Resource Information to Virtual Law Library
EOIR press release on resources that are now available in EOIR’s Virtual Law Library, including publicly available information on 54 countries, with documents on multiple aspects of country conditions that could be relevant to respondents before the immigration courts and the BIA.
DHS Privacy Impact Assessment Report on CasePro System
DHS Privacy Impact Assessment report on the Center Adjudication System Electronic Processing system (CasePro), which automatically processes filings for Temporary Protected Status, Deferred Enforced Departure, and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Immigration Law Advisor, January 2014 (Vol. 8, No. 1)
Immigration Law Advisor, a legal publication from EOIR, with articles on special immigrant juveniles, circuit court decisions for December 2013 and calendar year 2013 totals, summary of BIA precedent decisions, and a regulatory update.
Immigration Law Advisor, February 2014 (Vol. 8, No. 2)
Immigration Law Advisor, a legal publication from EOIR, with articles on social “visibility,” summary of recent circuit court decisions for January 2014, summary of BIA precedent decisions, and a regulatory update.
AILA New Members Division E-News, February 2014 (Vol. 6, Issue 1)
This latest edition brings you expert practice tips related to working with criminal defense attorneys, dealing with ethical dilemmas, departure and return, and VAWA. Plus, don’t miss an article on forming EB-5 regional centers.
DOJ OIL February 2014 Litigation Bulletin
The DOJ OIL Immigration Litigation Bulletin for February 2014, with articles on BIA’s clarification on the elements of particularity and social visibility to establish a particular social group, Silva-Trevino v. Holder, and TPS for Haiti, as well as circuit court decisions for February 2014.
BIA Reopens Proceedings After Amendment to Criminal Indictment
Unpublished BIA decision reopens proceedings after trial court strikes term “embezzlement” and reference to respondent’s employer from criminal indictment. (Matter of Flores-Razo, 1/31/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
CA5 Dismisses Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim, Finds BIA Was Entitled to Enforce Waiver of Appeal
The court held that since petitioner neglected to inform his attorney of the ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the BIA was entitled to enforce the waiver submitted through counsel and summarily dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. (Hernandez-Ortez v. Holder, 1/31/14)
CA5 Vacates and Remands BIA Decision in Silva-Trevino
Limiting its analysis to the “convicted of” clause of §212(a)(2)(A)(i), the court found the Attorney General’s method of considering extrinsic evidence in a crime involving moral turpitude analysis was inconsistent with the statute and contrary to precedent. (Silva-Trevino v. Holder, 1/30/14)
CA6 Upholds Adverse Credibility Finding in Asylum Denial for Ukrainian Citizen
The court denied the petition to review the asylum denial, finding that under the REAL ID Act, inconsistencies the IJ found in petitioner’s testimony were sufficient for an adverse credibility finding, although they did not go to the heart of the asylum claim. (Slyusar v. Holder, 1/30/14)
Settlement in Class Action Lawsuit Challenging Shackling of Immigration Detainees in Court
The ACLU of Northern California and other groups reached a settlement where individuals appearing for bond or merits hearings will no longer be shackled, absent an emergency situation. Only individuals with master calendar hearings on the court’s detained docket will have to wear restraints.
BIA Remands Record Where Attorney Failed to Appear at Hearing
Unpublished BIA decision finds IJ should have granted continuance or obtained explicit waiver of right to counsel after respondent’s attorney failed to appear. (Matter of Chavez, 1/30/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
AILA Agrees with President Obama: "It’s Time for Immigration Reform"
AILA applauds the renewed commitment to real immigration reform exemplified by President Obama in his State of the Union address. During his speech he focused on many topics but on immigration he was focused and concise, tying fixing our broken immigration system to economic growth.
BIA Remands for Hearing on Abandonment of LPR Status
Unpublished BIA decision remands record for hearing on whether respondent intended to abandon LPR status by signing Form I-407 so he could obtain medical treatment abroad. (Matter of Morisset Boisvert, 1/29/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
BIA Upholds Suppression of Evidence Due to Prolonged Traffic Stop
Unpublished BIA decision upholds suppression of evidence obtained after respondent was detained after accidentally turning into National Security Agency facility, says evidence of alienage from state database not sufficiently attenuated. (Matter of Lara, 1/28/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
BIA Says Descamps Supersedes Prior Decisions on Divisibility
Unpublished BIA decision terminates proceedings after finding Florida’s theft statute not divisible and prior Board decisions on the modified categorical approach superseded by Descamps v. U.S. (Matter of Forvilus, 1/28/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
BIA Remands Asylum Claim of Eritrean Fearing Military Service
Unpublished BIA decision remands for further consideration of asylum claim due to evidence indicating that Eritrean military conscripts are subjected to involuntary servitude and evaders receive disproportionate punishment (Matter of D-G-, 1/28/14) Special thanks to IRAC.
AILA’s Take on the Detention Bed Quota (Updated 4/2/14)
AILA’s take on the detention bed quota, an arbitrary number of detention beds set by Congress each year during the appropriations process.
USCIS Provides Asylum Division Statistics (October 2013 Through December 2013)
Statistics provided by USCIS Asylum Division including data on asylum office workload, number of asylum applications filed, breakdown of nationalities of asylum applicants, statistics on cases completed, credible fear reports, country-specific info, and more, for October 2013 through December 2013.