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
CA9 Reverses BIA Denial of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Motion to Reopen for Minor
The Court found that the minor's counsel was incompetent, and that the minor was denied a full and fair hearing because the IJ "may have to take an affirmative role in securing representation by competent counsel" and did not do so. (Lin v. Ashcroft, 1/26/04)
CA10 Finds it Has Jurisdiction to Review BIA AWO Determinations
The Court rejected the government's arguments that the Court lacked jurisdiction to review the BIA's determinations to issue AWO decisions, but found that the petitioner's case contained no error. (Batalova v. Ashcroft, 1/23/04)
CA7 Finds INA Definition of "Conviction" is Met, Regardless of Pending Appeal
Citing to First and Fifth Circuit decisions, the Seventh Circuit held that an individual is considered “convicted” once a court enters a formal judgment of guilt, regardless of whether any direct appeal of the conviction is pending. ()Montenegro v. Ashcroft, 1/22/04)
ICE Memos on Fugitive Operations Program Apprehension Goals
This document is a series of ICE Office of Detention & Removal memos, obtained by the Cardozo School of Law, which provide guidance for National Fugitive Operations Program teams. They suggest a policy change from focusing on dangerous fugitives, to arresting easy targets without a criminal record.
CA7 Finds that Probationary Disposition Meets the INA Definition of "Conviction"
CA7 found that INA § 236(c) did not preclude review of petitioner’s habeas petition, but ruled against petitioner in holding that a probationary disposition does satisfy the INA definition of "conviction." (Gonzales v. O'Connell, 1/21/04)
CA6 Remands Case on Terrorist Organization Issue
CA6 held that the BIA erred and abused its discretion when it denied a motion to remand where an organization was not designated a terrorist organization at the time of petitioner's involvement, and the record contained several favorable factors. (Daneshvar v. Ashcroft, 01/20/04)
Supreme Court to Address Whether Non-Admitted Foreign Nationals May Be Detained Indefinitely
The Supreme Court granted cert to resolve a circuit split on whether its decision in Zadvydas, striking down indefinite detention of noncitizens awaiting removal, applies to individuals who have not been “admitted.” (Benitez v. Wallis)
Proposed Amendments to Sentencing Guidelines Include Several Relating to Immigration Offenses
The U.S. Sentencing Commission has issued a notice setting forth proposed amendments to the sentencing guidelines, including several pertaining to immigration-related offenses. (69 FR 2169, 1/14/04)
CA1 on Authentication of Documents
The court found admissible documents which purported to show that Petitioner applied for asylum in Germany because “authentication requires nothing more than proof that the document or thing is what it purports to be.” (Yongo v. Ashcroft, 1/14/04)
CA10 Upholds BIA's AWO Procedure
Substantially adopting the First Circuit's position, the Tenth Circuit Court found that the BIA's Affirmance without Opinion (AWO) procedure does not violate principles of administrative law or due process. (Yuk v. Ashcroft, 1/10/04)
CA6 Grants Audita Querela to Stop Unconscionable Removal
Writ of audita querela granted based on the severe punishment for minor juvenile offenses, INS delays, removal proceedings based on a violation of state law sealing the juvenile records, and petitioner was not informed of the immigration consequences of her plea. (Ejelonu v. INS, 1/8/04)
CA5 Rules Intoxicated Assault Not a Crime of Violence Under Sentencing Guidelines
CA5 found that use of force was not an element of the intoxication assault statute which stated that the offense may be committed “by accident or mistake” and the statute does not require that bodily injury was caused by the defendant’s conduct. (United States v. Vargas-Duran, 1/8/04)
ICE Memo on Changes to NSEERS
A 1/8/04 memo from Victor Cerda, ICE Acting Principal Legal Advisor, discussing changes to National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS) special registration program.
En Banc CA10 Finds No Constitutional Right to be Informed of 212(c) Relief
The 10th Circuit reversed its affirmance of a District Court's dismissal of removal proceedings, holding that the defendant did not have a right to be informed of available discretionary relief. (United States v. Aguirre-Tello, 1/6/04)
CA8 Holds that Voluntary Departure Interrupts Continuous Physical Presence
The Court held that departure from the U.S. pursuant to voluntary departure interrupts continuous physical presence for cancellation of removal eligibility, affirming Matter of Romalez-Alcaide, 23 I. & N. Dec. 423 (BIA 2002). (Palomino v. Ashcroft, 1/15/04)
CA8 Upholds AWO Procedure
The Eighth Circuit upheld the BIA's Affirmance Without Decision process. On the merits, it affirmed the IJ's denial of asylum and withholding. (Loulou v. Ashcroft, 12/30/03)
EOIR Proposes Attorney Registration Program
EOIR proposed rule to amend regulations to require registration of attorneys and representatives as a condition of practicing before IJs and the BIA. The preamble indicates that the proposed rule is to facilitate the institution of electronic filing. Comments due by 3/1/04. (68 FR 75160, 12/30/03)
CA10 Holds Failure to Appear Not Excusable
The Tenth Circuit held that the pendency of a motion to change venue was not an "exceptional circumstance" excusing a failure to appear at an immigration hearing. (Tang v. Ashcroft) (12/29/03)
CA3 En Banc Panel Upholds AWO Procedure
The en banc panel upheld the validity of the BIA's affirmance without opinion (AWO) process but reversed the IJ's denial of relief on credibility grounds. (Dia v. Ashcroft, 12/22/03)
CA3 Looks To Amount of Loss for Aggravated Felony Determination
The court concluded that the amount of loss, not the amount of restitution, is the critical factor in determinating whether a conviction for a crime involving fraud or deceit is an aggravated felony. (Munroe v. Ashcroft, 12/16/03)
CA7 Finds Fleuti Doctrine Superseded
The Seveth Circuit upheld the denial of a suspension claim where the petitioner had made a 6-month trip to Mexico in 1990, finding that IIRAIRA superseded the Fleuti doctrine with respect to the continuity of physical presence. (Tapia v. Ashcroft, 12/16/03)
CA5 Finds Drug Money Laundering to be Crime Involving Moral Turpitude
Relying on the record of criminal information where the statute was divisible, CA5 found that a federal conviction for traveling in interstate commerce with intent to facilitate money laundering the proceeds of drug trade was a crime involving moral turpitude.(Smalley v. Ashcroft, 12/15/03)
CA2 Orders Appointment of Counsel in Immigration Case
The court ordered the appointment of counsel to brief the pro se Petitioner's advance parole claim and whether Petitioner's appeal was rendered moot based on his status as the spouse of an asylee. (Pozdniakov v. INS, 12/12/03)
CA6 Holds that It Can Stay Voluntary Departure
The Sixth Circuit concluded that it has equitable authority to stay a voluntary departure period. (Nwankanma v. Ashcroft, 12/10/03)
CA2 on Retroactivity of AEDPA §440(d)
The court found that AEDPA §440(d) was not applied in an impermissibly retroactive manner where the conduct occurred prior to the statute's effective date but the plea was entered after the effective date. (Khan v. Ashcroft, 12/9/03)