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
AILA and Partners Request EOIR to Extend Comment Period for Proposed Rule on Asylum and Withholding of Removal Procedures
Nearly 90 organizations, including AILA, sent a letter to EOIR and OMB urging the agencies to extend the public comment period on EOIR's proposed rule on asylum and withholding of removal procedures from 30 days to a minimum of 60 days.
Department of the Treasury Notice on Immigration Bond Interest Rates
Department of the Treasury notice that for the period beginning 10/1/20 and ending 12/31/20, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration Bond interest rate is 0.11 per centum per annum. (85 FR 63162, 10/6/20)
CA7 Says BIA Erred in Finding IJ Need Not Warn Petitioner of Possible Eligibility for Asylum and Related Relief
Where the petitioner had told the IJ that he feared persecution at the hands of gangs in Honduras because of his relationship to his mother, the court held that the IJ should have advised him that he might be eligible for asylum or withholding of removal. (Jimenez-Aguilar v. Barr, 10/6/20)
ERO Miami Contact List (October 2020)
Contact information for ERO Miami updated as of October 2020.
Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual (10/5/20)
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) provided an updated Practice Manual (last revised on October 5, 2020). This manual describes procedures, requirements, and recommendations for practice before the BIA.
CA1 Upholds Asylum Denial to Kenyan Petitioner Who Opposed Al-Shabaab
The court upheld the BIA’s denial of asylum, finding that terror attacks in Kenya by Al-Shabaab constituted generalized violence, and rejecting the petitioner’s proposed social group of westernized and Americanized Christian Kenyans who oppose Al-Shabaab. (Zhakira v. Barr, 10/2/20)
CA3 Holds It Lacks Jurisdiction to Review IJ’s Discretionary Denial of Continuance to Petitioner Convicted of Aggravated Felony
Where petitioner, who had been convicted of an aggravated felony, argued that the BIA erred in upholding the IJ’s denial of his motion for a continuance, the court dismissed the petition, finding he had failed to state a constitutional claim or question of law. (Mirambeaux v. Barr, 10/2/20)
H. Res. 1153: Condemning Unwanted, Unnecessary Medical Procedures on Individuals Without Their Full, Informed Consent
The House of Representatives passed House Res. 1153 by a vote of 232–156, with 7 Republicans joining 225 Democrats. The bipartisan resolution condemns unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals in immigration detention without their full, informed consent. AILA endorsed the resolution.
House Condemns Atrocities Against Immigrants in Custody
AILA welcomed the passage of the bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 1153 which condemns unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals in immigration detention without their full, informed consent.
EOIR Launches Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) and Pro Bono Portal
EOIR announced the launch of the Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR), which provides resources on immigration proceedings before EOIR, and the Pro Bono Portal, which allows for the initiation and management of applications to be included in the EOIR List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers.
Practice Alert: Legal Access Rights at the Irwin and Stewart Detention Centers
SPLC provides information for attorneys who work with clients inside the Irwin and Stewart detention centers in Georgia, including legal access rights pursuant to a recent order in SPLC v. DHS.
Broward Transitional Center Docket (October 2020)
Docket from the Broward Transitional Center updated as of October 2020.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Administratively Closed Cases
EOIR released statistics on administratively closed cases from FY2008 through FY2020. At the end of FY2020, EOIR had 310,627 inactive pending cases.
EOIR Released Statistics on In Absentia Removal Orders
EOIR released statistics on in absentia removal orders from FY2008 through FY2020. In FY2020, EOIR issued a total of 86,555 in absentia removal orders.
EOIR Releases Statistics on New Cases and Total Completions
EOIR released statistics on new cases and total case completions from FY2008 through FY2020. As of the end of FY2020, EOIR had receipts for 361,982 new cases and 231,237 total case completions.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Asylum Rates
EOIR released statistics on asylum decision rates from FY2008 through the FY2020. At the end of FY2020, EOIR had a 54.55 percent denial rate and a 19.12 percent grant rate.
EOIR Released Statistics on Asylum Applicant In Absentia Removal Orders
EOIR released statistics on asylum applicant in absentia removal orders from FY2008 through FY2020. In FY2020, EOIR issued 6,928 in absentia removal orders for asylum applicants.
EOIR Released Statistics on Pending Unaccompanied Child Cases
EOIR released statistics on pending unaccompanied child (UAC) cases from FY2008 through FY2020. In FY2020, EOIR had 103,035 pending UAC cases.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Representation Rates
EOIR released FY2020 statistics on the overall representation rate; the representation rate for all pending UAC cases and UAC cases pending for more than a year; the representation rate for pending asylum cases and completed asylum cases; and the representation rate for all completed appeals.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Motions
EOIR released statistics on motions to reopen, motions to re-calendar, and motions to re-consider from FY2008 through FY2020. For FY2020, 17,596 motions to reopen were filed in immigration courts and 4,981 were filed with the BIA.
EOIR Released Statistics on UAC In Absentia Removal Orders
EOIR released statistics on unaccompanied children (UAC) in absentia removal orders from FY2008 through FY2020. In FY2020, EOIR issued a total of 4,514 UAC in absentia removal orders.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Decision Outcomes for FY2020
EOIR released statistics on outcomes of initial case decisions for FY2020. Statistics cover removal, deportation, and exclusion cases; asylum-only and withholding-only cases; and credible fear reviews, reasonable fear reviews, and claimed status reviews.
EOIR Releases Statistics on Circuit Court Remands Filed
EOIR released statistics on circuit court remands filed from FY2008 to FY2020. In FY2020, 660 circuit court remands were filed.
EOIR Releases Statistics on All Appeals Filed, Completed, and Pending
EOIR released statistics on all appeals filed, completed, and pending from FY2008 to FY2020. In FY2020, 58,901 appeals were filed; 40,393 appeals completed; and 90,940 appeals were pending.
EOIR Releases FY2020 Statistics on Video Teleconference Hearings and Adjournments
EOIR released statistics on the number of video teleconference (VTC) hearings and adjournments for FY2020. In FY2020, EOIR held 1,447,714 hearings out of which 282,232 were VTC hearings. Nine hundred and twenty three hearings were adjourned due to video malfunction.