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
CA9 Discusses Drug Trafficking as Particularly Serious Crime Bar to Withholding
CA9 held that the AG did not exceed his authority by creating a strong presumption that drug trafficking offenses constitute particularly serious crimes in Matter of Y-L-, but found that the BIA erred in applying Y-L- to a plea made prior to the decision. (Miguel-Miguel v. Gonzales, 8/29/07)
CA9 Finds Petitioner Eligible for Cancellation Based on Inconclusive Record of Conviction
The court found that in submitting a record of conviction that is inconclusive as to the exact nature of his conviction, Petitioner met his burden of proving that he was not convicted of an aggravated felony for purposes of cancellation of removal. (Sandoval-Lua v. Gonzales, 8/28/07)
CA9 Says INA §101(a)(13) May Not be Applied Retroactively to LPRs With Pre-IIRAIRA Guilty Pleas
The court held that IIRAIRA's new definition of “admission” abrogated the Fleuti doctrine, as derived from the former definition of “entry.” However, the new INA §101(a)(13) may not be applied retroactively to LPRs who pled guilty pre-IIRAIRA. (Camins v. Gonzales, 8/28/07)
CA9 Reverses IJ’s Determination that Asylum Seeker Must Prove Identity
The court held that INA §208(d)(5)(A) imposes duties on the AG and DOS to check the identities of asylum applicants and that there is no new burden on an asylum-seeker under this provision. (Kalouma v. Gonzales, 8/28/07)
ICE Issues Guidance for Juveniles Encountered During Fugitive Operations
ICE issued a memorandum providing clarification to the Office of Detention and Removal Operations Fugitive Operations Teams who encounter USC or LPR juveniles during the executive of enforcement initiatives targeting fugitive undocumented individuals.
CA9 Upholds 8 CFR §212.7(d) and Allows its Retroactive Application in Denial of §212(h) Waiver
The court held that 8 CFR §212.7(d)'s heightened hardship standard for §212(h) cases involving a “violent or dangerous” crime, is a permissible exercise of AG authority and may be applied to convictions that occurred before the effective date of the regulation. (Mejia v. Gonzales, 8/24/07)
CA9 Finds Sworn Affidavit Not Required for Rescission of In Absentia Removal Order
The court held that Petitioner’s pro se letter, along with other circumstantial evidence, was sufficient to overcome the presumption of service and to demonstrate that she did not receive notice for purposes of rescinding her in absentia removal order. (Sembiring v. Gonzales, 8/24/07)
CA9 Finds District Court Jurisdiction Over Narrow Claim of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
CA9 held that the district court has jurisdiction over a habeas petition claiming ineffective assistance of counsel that arises from an attorney’s failure to file a timely petition for review, because the claim does not require review of a final order. (Singh v. Gonzales, 8/24/07).
CA2 Remands for Interpretation of “Approvable When Filed” for §245(i) Purposes
The court retained jurisdiction to consider whether the IJ abused her discretion in denying Petitioner's request for a continuance, but remanded to the BIA to determine whether Petitioner was grandfathered for purposes of INA §245(i). (Butt v. Gonzales, 8/23/07)
CA7 Upholds BIA’s Denial of MTR Based on Changed Personal Circumstances
The court agreed with the BIA that INA §240(c)(7)(C)(ii) allows for motions to reopen beyond the 90-day time limit based only on changed country conditions, not a change in personal circumstances. (Chen v. Gonzales, 8/23/07)
ICE Announces ACCESS Program to Foster Local Law Enforcement Partnerships
On August 21, 2007, ICE announced ACCESS, a new program to foster partnerships with local law enforcement. Under this program, ICE is offering assistance with immigration law enforcement and in other areas.
CA7 Rejects BIA’s Finding that Applicant’s FGM Claim Was Not Well-Founded
The court held that Petitioner’s testimony was corroborated by an affidavit from her doctor and an affidavit from her and her father’s pastor in Nigeria verifying that her in-laws sought to have her undergo FGM.(Oyekunle v. Gonzales, 8/22/07)
USCIS Notice to Individuals Granted Immigration Benefits by an IJ or the BIA
A USCIS notice to individuals granted immigration benefits by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals. Guidance is provided on obtaining documentation of status.
CA5 Remands to BIA to Allow Government to Withdraw Charge of Removability
CA5 vacated its prior opinion and remanded to the BIA for the government to withdraw the charge of removability for a controlled substance conviction which was vacated for substantive reasons and thus is no longer a “conviction” under Pickering. (Gaona-Romero v. Gonzales, 8/21/07)
CA6 Finds No Jurisdiction to Review VWP Entrant’s Request for Adjustment of Status
The court held that a VWP entrant who remains beyond the authorized period then files for adjustment of status has waived the right to seek review of the denied adjustment application, as well as the right to contest removal through a renewed application. (Lacey v. Gonzales, 8/21/07)
CA2 Rejects Humanitarian Asylum for Lack of Physical/Mental Harm
The court found no evidence of long-lasting physical or mental effects of the persecution Petitioner suffered, which included physical attacks, the rape of his wife in his presence, and burning his house to the ground. (Jalloh v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA2 Says BIA Must Give Opportunity to Rebut Administrative Notice
The court held that the BIA erred when it failed to give Petitioner notice and the opportunity to rebut its intention to consider as administratively noticed the fact that the Mislosevic regime had been dismantled. (Burger v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA8 Rejects One-Year Deadline Asylum Claim Based on UN Refugee Protocol
CA8 held that it lacked jurisdiction to review the reasons for filing outside the one-year deadline, but that it did have jurisdiction to address whether the one-year deadline conflicted with the UN Refugee Protocol. It found the argument without merit.(Purwantono v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA9 Finds Jurisdiction to Review Due Diligence Claim for Tolling of Motion to Reopen Deadline
The court found that the question of whether Petitioner acted with due diligence for purposes of equitable tolling of the motion to reopen deadline was a reviewable mixed question of law and undisputed fact. (Ghahremani v. Gonzales, 8/17/07)
CA5 Remands Case Involving False Claim to U.S. Citizenship to Gain Admission to University
CA5 remanded to the BIA for reconsideration, in light of Theodros v. Gonzales, of whether falsely claiming U.S. citizenship in order to gain admission to a private university’s part-time program is a bar to admissibility under INA §212(a)(6)(C)(ii). (Ismail v. Gonzales, 8/16/07)
BIA Discusses Element of “Approvable When Filed” Standard
The BIA held that to establish eligibility for 245(i) based on a marriage-based visa petition, one must prove that the marriage was bona fide at its inception in order to show that the visa petition was “meritorious in fact”. Matter of Jara Riero and Jara Espinol, 24 I&N Dec. 267 (BIA 2007)
CA9 Finds Cambodian Prison Guard Not Subject to Persecutor Bar to Asylum
The court found that a Cambodian prison guard, who unlocked doors to prisoners’ cells based on instructions from superiors and led them back to their cells after interrogations, was not subject to the persecutor bar to asylum and withholding. (Im v. Gonzales, 8/13/07)
CA9 Finds IJ Erred in Denying Asylum as a Matter of Discretion
The court found that Petitioner’s use of false documents in fleeing Iraq was not a proper reason for a discretionary denial of asylum. The court also found that Petitioner presented clear reasons for not applying for asylum in 3 other countries. (Gulla v. Gonzales, 8/13/07)
DHS Announces Series of Reforms on Border Security and Immigration
On 08/10/07, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez announced a series of reforms the Administration will pursue to address border security and immigration challenges.
CA2 Asks BIA for Position on Forced IUD Insertion
The court remanded for the BIA to articulate its position concerning whether, and under what conditions, forced insertion of an IUD constitutes persecution. (Zheng v. Gonzales, 8/10/07)