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
VOICE: July/August 2011
The July/August 2011 issue of VOICE: An Immigration Dialogue features articles on acts that could make your client inadmissible, litigation and practice management advice from seasoned professionals, latest happenings with members, and much more!
Immigration Law Advisor, May-June 2011 (Vol. 5, No. 5)
Immigration Law Advisor, a legal publication from EOIR, with articles on the Supreme Court deciding if tax fraud is “fraud” and the reason to believe standard under Section 212(a)(2)(c)(i), circuit court decisions for April and May 2011, recent BIA precedent decisions, and a regulatory update.
DOJ OIL June 2011 Litigation Bulletin
DOJ Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) June 2011 Litigation Bulletin addresses the Solicitor General’s cert petitions in CA9 imputation cases, REAL ID Act corroboration provisions, finality and reconsideration, updates on pending cases and issues, and more.
Prosecutorial Discretion: Monitoring Implementation of the June 17, 2011 ICE Memos
Do you have a case where the issue of prosecutorial discretion was raised after ICE released the June 17, 2011 memoranda? Help AILA and the AIC monitor implementation of the new prosecutorial discretion guidance by taking this survey.
CA3 on Jurisdiction Over Requests for Consent to Reapply for Admission
The court held that the immigration judge does not have jurisdiction to consider a request for consent to reapply for admission under INA §212(a)(9)(C)(ii) because Congress delegated that authority to DHS. (Sarango v. Att’y Gen. of the U.S., 6/30/11)
BIA Says Maximum Possible Sentence Determines Eligibility for Petty Offense Exception
The BIA held that the maximum possible sentence for an offense, rather than the standard range under the State's sentencing guidelines, determines an alien's eligibility for the petty offense exception. Matter of Ruiz-Lopez, 25 I&N Dec. 551 (BIA 2011)
CRS Report on Asylum and “Credible Fear” Issues
A 6/29/11 Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on asylum and “credible fear” issues in U.S. immigration policy provides an overview of the current asylum policy, a breakdown of source countries for asylum seekers, an analysis of approved asylum cases, and more.
CA9 Remands, Finds Nexus in Armenian Whistleblowing Asylum Claim
The court granted the petition for review in a case involving an Armenian petitioner who faces retaliation from a notorious criminal for pursuing his prosecution and exposing his ties to corrupt government officials. (Antonyan v. Holder, 6/29/11)
CA9 Declines to Review Denial of Stay of Removal
The court found no jurisdiction to review the BIA’s interim order denying a stay of removal pending the disposition of Petitioner’s motion to reopen, because it was not part of a “final order of removal” as defined under INA §101(a)(47). (Shaboyan v. Holder, 6/29/11)
Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on DREAM Act
Testimony from the 6/28/11 Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security hearing on the DREAM Act.
CA10 Finds Jurisdiction to Review Continuance Denial in Light of Kucana
Reversing course from Yerkovich v. Ashcroft, the court found that the Supreme Court’s decision in Kucana v. Holder makes it clear that the denial of a request for a continuance is reviewable. (Jimenez-Guzman v. Holder, 6/28/11)
ICE’s Union “On The Water Front”
The ICE union's reaction to ICE Director John Morton's prosecutorial discretion memorandum shows that the union leadership, apparently out of touch with its own members, is hell bent on maintaining the status quo-indiscriminate arrest, detention, prosecution, and deportation of immigrants-without th
CA9 Allows Consideration of Alien’s Admission in Determining Removability (Withdrawn)
Clarifying Cheuk Fung S-Yong, the court held that an IJ may consider an alien’s admissions regarding removability if they are corroborated by the narrow set of documents that are part of the record of conviction. (Pagayon v. Holder, 6/24/11; withdrawn 12/8/11)
Baltimore IJ Reopens Sua Sponte; Asks Parties to Address DOMA Issues
The IJ reopened proceedings to hear additional evidence in support of withholding of removal and directed the parties to address recent developments relating to the ability of same-sex spouses to benefit from visa petitions at the master hearing. Courtesy of Lavi S. Soloway.
Jose Antonio Vargas Takes His Seat
The success of a civil rights movement depends on people who are willing to take extraordinary personal risk. Yesterday Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, did just that by outing himself as an undocumented immigrant in the New York Times, the nation's leading newspaper of r
ICE Union Leaders Speak Out Against Prosecutorial Discretion Memo
A 6/23/11 press release of the National ICE Council calls the 6/17/11 Morton memorandum on prosecutorial discretion a “law enforcement nightmare” and “just one of many new ICE policies in queue aimed at stopping the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.”
BIA Addresses K-2 Age Out Eligibility for Adjustment of Status
The BIA held that the derivative child of a fiancée visa holder is not ineligible for adjustment of status simply by virtue of having turned 21 after admission to the U.S. on a K-2 visa. Matter of Le, 25 I&N Dec. 541 (BIA 2011)
ICE Announces the Arrest of More Than 2,400 Undocumented Individuals in Cross Check Operation
ICE press release announcing that more than 2,400 undocumented individuals with prior criminal convictions were arrested in May 2011 as a result of a targeted Cross Check operation which was carried out across all 50 states over a seven-day period.
CA9 Finds California Concealed Weapon Conviction Is a Firearms Offense
The court held that a conviction for carrying a concealed weapon under California Penal Code §12025(a) is categorically a removable firearms offense under INA §237(a)(2)(C). (Gil v. Holder, 6/22/11)
BIA Remands for Further Fact Finding in Domestic Violence Asylum Case
In an unpublished decision, the BIA remanded for entry of a new decision, calling for further factual development and arguments specific to the gender-based asylum claim, consistent with the Attorney General’s directive in Matter of R-A-. Courtesy of Aleksander Milch.
CA10 Says Constitutionality of Plea Is Not an Element of Proving “Conviction”
The court rejected Petitioner’s argument that in light of Padilla v. Kentucky, the government must prove in immigration proceedings that the alien received constitutionally adequate advice about the consequences of his criminal plea. (Waugh v. Holder, 6/22/11)
CA11 Rejects Ineffective Assistance Claim Where Counsel Conceded Removability
The court held that substantial evidence supports the BIA’s finding that counsel made a reasonable strategic decision in conceding removability for Petitioner’s misrepresentation where Petitioner was eligible for §237(a)(1)(H) waiver. (Ali v. U.S. Att’y Gen., 6/22/11)
EOIR Releases Flyer to Help in the Fight against UPIL
EOIR press release announcing a new flyer to help in the fight against the unauthorized practice of immigration law (UPIL), which will be distributed by all 59 immigration courts to respondents in removal proceedings. A copy of the flyer is attached to the announcement.
DHS Responds to AILA Regarding Treatment of Cases Impacted by DOMA
A 6/21/11 letter from Kelly Ryan, DHS Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy, stating that until DOMA is repealed or struck down, DHS will continue to exercise its discretion in individual cases, but will not grant blanket relief or hold DOMA cases in abeyance.
ICE Revised Immigration Detainer Form I-247 (6/11) (Updated 9/6/11)
ICE revised immigration detainer Form I-247, issued in June 2011. The form instructs that state and local authorities are not to detain an individual for more than 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, and requires local law enforcement to provide a copy to detainees.