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
Written Testimony of Leon Rodriguez on Oversight of USCIS
Written testimony of Leon Rodriguez from a 7/29/14 hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on oversight of USCIS, covering a wide range of topics including the timely adjudication of I-130 immediate relative petitions, L-1A site visits, DACA, EB-5, transformation, and unaccompanied minors.
National Sign-On Letter to House on Supplemental Funding
On 7/29/14 AILA joined 190 other organizations in a sign-on letter to the House urging the passage of a clean supplemental funding bill and opposing changes to the TVPRA that would water down protections for children.
National Sign-On Letter on Supplemental Funding
On 7/29/2014 AILA joined over 190 other organizations in a sign on letter to the House and Senate urging the passage of a clean supplemental funding bill and opposing changes to the TVPRA that would water down protections for children.
Proposed House and Senate Emergency Appropriations Bills
In July 2014 the House and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairs, Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Senator Barbara Mikulski (R-MD) respectively, introduced legislation to provide supplemental funding to address the Central American humanitarian crisis impact on the southern border.
CA8 Says Conviction for Grand Theft Auto Is Aggravated Felony
The court held the BIA did not err in determining that petitioner’s 1989 conviction for grand theft auto was an aggravated felony, as it found that the conditional probationary 365 day county jail sentence was a term of imprisonment of at least one year. (Hernandez v. Holder, 7/28/14)
CA8 Says Iowa Tampering With Records Conviction Is Categorically a CIMT
The court upheld the BIA’s conclusion that petitioner’s conviction for tampering with records under Iowa Code §715A.5 was categorically a CIMT, rendering him statutorily ineligible for cancellation of removal. (Villatoro v. Holder, 7/28/14)
BIA Finds IJ Failed to Advise Respondent of Eligibility for Voluntary Departure
Unpublished BIA decision remands record upon finding IJ committed legal error by failing to advise the respondent of his eligibility to apply for post-conclusion voluntary departure. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Banos, 7/28/14)
BIA Terminates Proceedings Against Respondent Accused of Cocaine Possession
Unpublished BIA decision terminates proceedings against respondent convicted of drug possession because the lab report finding the substance was cocaine was not relied upon by the criminal court. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Perez Flores, 7/28/14)
CA7 Says BIA Did Not Satisfy Hashmi Factors in Granting Continuance
The court held the BIA abused its discretion in denying the continuance pending adjudication of the I-130, as a continuance was needed due to USCIS’s carelessness in losing supporting materials about the potential fraudulent nature of petitioner’s second marriage. (Yang v. Holder, 7/25/14)
CA6 Says Petitioner Failed to State a Claim under the APA
The court affirmed the district court’s dismissal of the complaint, holding that USCIS’s termination of refugee status and denial of the adjustment application were not “final agency actions” reviewable in district court under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). (Jama v. DHS, 7/25/14)
BIA Holds Iowa Delivery of Marijuana Not an Aggravated Felony
Unpublished BIA decision holds delivery of marijuana under Iowa Code 124.401(1)(d) is not a drug trafficking aggravated felony under Moncrieffe v. Holder. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Telesford, 5/27/14)
BIA Withdraws from Lanferman, Citing Descamps
The BIA held that it did not have authority to continue to apply the divisibility analysis used in Lanferman and found respondent was not removable due to an aggravated felony but was removable due to his firearms conviction. Matter of Chairez-Castrejon, 26 I&N Dec. 349 (BIA 2014)
AILA: Artesia Detention Center a Due Process Failure
Following a visit to the Artesia detention facility this week and observing severe due process violations, AILA calls for the suspension of all deportations from the facility until fundamental improvements can be made.
AILA Quicktake #91: The Artesia Experience
Olsi Vrapi, AILA member and managing partner of Noble & Vrapi, joins us via Skype to discuss his experience at Artesia, a family detention center located in New Mexico set up to house families from Central America.
Special Member Update: Response to Central American Humanitarian Crisis (Updated 7/25/14)
AILA National has been coordinating efforts to effect change on the UAC humanitarian crisis through liaison, legislative, and policy channels, as well as coordinating a pro bono response. This update is on what we know, what actions we are continuing to pursue, and how you can get involved.
CA7 on CSPA “Sought to Acquire” Standard
The court remanded for the BIA to determine whether petitioner took “substantial steps” to acquire permanent status within one year of his eligibility, as required by the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) standard in effect prior to Matter of O. Vasquez. (Velásquez v. Holder, 7/23/14)
CA1 Remands Asylum Denial for Mayan Quiché Petitioner from Guatemala
The court vacated and remanded the asylum denial, finding that the petitioner showed his Mayan Quiché identity was at least one central reason why he and his community were targeted by the Guatemalan army. (Ordonez-Quino v. Holder, 7/23/14)
CA9 Affirms Government’s Modified Categorical Approach for Controlled Substance Offense
The court held DHS could consider a page in the indictment that described the controlled substance as methamphetamine because the statement was specifically incorporated into petitioner’s plea agreement as the factual basis supporting his guilty plea. (Alvarado v. Holder, 7/23/14)
AILA: House Republican Plan Will Endanger Children Fleeing Violence and Persecution
AILA’s President Leslie Holman discusses the House Republican plan to address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border as a plan that, “will harm vulnerable child victims of violence.”
Speaker Boehner Letter to President Obama on TPVRA
A 7/23/14 letter from Speaker Boehner (R-OH) to President Obama arguing that it will be difficult to make “progress on this issue without strong, public support from the White House for much-needed reforms, including changes to the 2008 [TVPRA] law.”
House GOP Working Group Recommendations on Humanitarian Crisis
Recommendations of the Republican working group assembled by Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and led by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) in response to the humanitarian crisis in Central America.
Sign-on Letter to Senate Appropriations on Counsel for Children
On 7/22/14, AILA joined 48 organizations in a sign-on letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee on the need for adequate funding for legal representation for all children.
NAIJ Letter to Senate Leadership on Juveniles in Immigration Courts
A 7/22/14 letter from the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) to Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on the unique concerns and protections that should be afforded juveniles in immigration courts.
NAIJ Letter to House Leadership on Juveniles in Immigration Courts
A 7/22/14 letter from the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) to Speaker John Boehner and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on juveniles in immigration courts, stating that children and juveniles are a vulnerable population with special needs under the judicial system.
Legislation Addressing the Central American Humanitarian Crisis (Updated 7/29/14)
A round-up of all legislation introduced after June 2014 addressing the humanitarian crisis in Central American and the impact on the southern border of the United States.