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 Analysis of Deportation Figures
AILA analysis of deportation numbers from FY2002 to FY2012 showing the increase in removals at a time of decrease in apprehensions.
EOIR FY2013 Statistics Yearbook
EOIR FY2013 statistics yearbook with data on the Immigration Courts, BIA, and OCAHO. The yearbook, an annual compilation of data on respondents’ cases by nationality, language, and disposition, and provides detailed information surrounding asylum cases, used a new statistical methodology for FY2013.
CA9 Declines to Review Withholding and CAT Denial for Dominican Petitioner
The court held substantial evidence supported the BIA’s adverse credibility determination based on petitioner’s various lies to U.S. officials and to the district court judge, especially about her identity and country of origin. (Garcia v. Holder, 4/16/14)
CA7 Declines to Review Removal Order for Petitioner with Multiple Identities
The court denied the petition for review, finding that the BIA did not err by finding that the petitioner, who had multiple identities, did not establish by clear and convincing evidence that he was inspected and admitted into the U.S. (Singh v. Holder, 4/16/14)
EOIR 1-800 Number and Computer Systems Outage
EOIR alert that it is currently experiencing a systems outage involving several computer applications including eRegistration and the telephonic case information system (the 1-800 phone number). EOIR hopes to have the situation resolved in the near future.
AILA Liaison OSC Meeting Minutes (4/14/14)
Approved minutes from the AILA Verification & Documentation Liaison Committee’s 4/14/14 meeting with DOJ’s Office of Special Counsel. Topics include DACA, settlement agreements, discriminatory intent, I-9 self-audits and internal investigations, I-94 automation, hotline calls, and FY2014 trends.
CA9 Declines to Review Asylum and Withholding Denial for Chinese Petitioner
The court held substantial evidence supported BIA’s reasonable determination that petitioner was not credible under the totality of the circumstances, including his non-responsive demeanor during cross-examination and affirmative misrepresentations of his residency. (Jin v. Holder, 4/14/14)
CA5 Finds Petitioner Ineligible to Adjust under §245(i) Due to Fraudulent Entry
The court denied the petition for review, finding no error in the BIA’s determination that petitioner was statutorily ineligible for adjustment of status under INA §245(i) because she was inadmissible under INA § 212(a)(6)(C)(i) for fraudulent entry. (Sattani v. Holder, 4/14/14)
USCIS Statistics on Minor Asylum Applicants
USCIS asylum office statistics, including information on minor principal applicants and asylum applicants of any age filing with USCIS under the initial jurisdiction provision of the TVPRA wile in removal proceedings, from 10/1/13 through 3/31/14.
District Court Agrees with Third Circuit that Detainers Are Not Mandatory
The court agreed with the Third Circuit that detainers are not mandatory and found that the county violated the Fourth Amendment by holding the petitioner solely on the basis of the detainer, without determining whether it had probable cause. (Miranda-Olivares v. Clackamas County, 4/11/14)
AILA/EOIR Liaison Meeting Minutes (4/10/14)
Minutes from the 4/10/14 AILA EOIR Liaison Committee meeting with EOIR. Topics include eRegistry and eFiling, asylum and withholding cases, immigration court and BIA backlogs, implementation of the policy for detainees with serious mental disorders, the BIA zip code, U visas and the practice manual.
TRAC Report on ICE Deportation Data by Gender, Age, and Country of Citizenship
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) report on FY2012 and FY2013 deportation counts by gender, age, and nationality for all countries.
AILA/CBP Liaison Q&As (4/10/14)
The AILA CBP Liaison Committee provides approved Q&As from their meeting with CBP on 04/10/14. Topics include I-94 automation, blanket L validity, Officer’s Reference Tool, Pre-Clearance, FOIAs, ARO, parole, implementation of United States v. Windsor, Global Entry, and Trusted Traveler.
AILA ICE Liaison Committee Meeting Q&As (4/10/14)
AILA ICE Liaison Committee questions and answers from the 4/10/14 liaison meeting with ICE, including information on prosecutorial discretion, joint motions to reopen, the parental interests directive, deferred action and stays of removal, biometrics, and U visa applicants with a final order.
Immigration Law Advisor, March 2014 (Vol. 8, No. 3)
Immigration Law Advisor, a legal publication from EOIR, with articles on the doctrine of command responsibility and its applicability to foreign military commanders, summary of circuit court and BIA precedent decisions for February 2014, and a regulatory update.
USCIS Message on 30-Day Comment Period for Revised Form I-821D
USCIS message on the publication of a 30-day notice in the Federal Register inviting public comment on the revised version of the Form I-821D. USCIS will issue the final revised Form I-821D after the public comment period is over, the comments are addressed, and the form is approved.
BIA Upholds Grant of Adjustment Despite Illegal Re-Entry During Three-Year Bar
Unpublished BIA decision finds respondent eligible to adjust status under INA 245(i) despite having illegally re-entered the country because he was no longer subject to the three-year unlawful presence bar. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Cruz, 4/9/14)
BIA Finds Pro Se Respondent Not Given Adequate Time to Seek Counsel
Unpublished BIA decision holds that a nine-day continuance over a holiday period for a detained respondent who did not speak English was insufficient time to retain counsel. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Castillo, 4/9/14)
BIA Remands for 212(c) Hearing
Unpublished BIA decision finds respondent eligible for 212(c) waiver for conviction sustained after jury trial, finding Matter of Abdelghany trumps Sixth Circuit decision in Kellerman. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of J-G, 4/9/14)
TRAC Report Reveals Secure Communities Program Failures
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) report finding that the number of noncitizens deported by ICE who have committed crimes other than minor violations, the primary targets of the Secure Communities program, has declined over the last four years.
AILA Amicus Brief on Use of State Department Reports in Asylum Cases
Amicus brief filed by AILA and other organizations asking the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear Angov v. Holder en banc. The brief argues that State Department reports not subject to cross-examination invite adjudication of asylum claims based on speculation rather than evidence.
BIA Finds Nevada Attempted Possession of Stolen Vehicle Is Not an Aggravated Felony
The BIA sustained the appeal and remanded, finding that attempted possession of a stolen vehicle under Nevada law, which requires a mental state of “reason to believe,” is not categorically an aggravated felony under INA §§ 101(a)(43)(G) and (U). Matter of Sierra, 26 I&N Dec. 288 (BIA 2014).
CA7 Declines to Review Withholding Denial for Mexican Petitioner Fleeing Abusive Wife
The court held that the BIA did not err by finding that the petitioner failed to identify “persons who face persecution by corrupt governmental and law enforcement authorities instigated by a politically connected spouse” as a valid social group. (Ruiz-Cabrera v. Holder, 4/8/14)
AIM: Mental Health and Detention
For April's AILA Interview of the Month (AIM), immigration attorney and AILA member Rebecca Rojas joins us on Skype from Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss mental health and detention.
BIA Terminates Proceedings Sua Sponte After Circuit Ruling
Unpublished BIA decision reopens and terminates proceedings sua sponte in light of Third Circuit decision finding respondent non-removable but not remanding for further proceedings. Special thanks to IRAC. (Matter of Borrome, 4/7/14)