Immigration Courts
Immigration courts play a crucial role in ensuring that immigration laws are applied fairly and consistently, providing due process to those facing removal. Learn more about issues facing the courts today and explore the actions we're taking to ensure the rights of immigrants are upheld and legal integrity is maintained.
New Memo to Immigration Judges Reaffirms Availability of Administrative Closure
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued a memorandum last month providing guidance to immigration judges about administrative closure—a critical tool for docket management and addressing an ever-growing immigration court backlog. EOIR Director David Neal issued the memo in response to the recent Attorney General decision in Matter… Read More
Coalition calls on Congress to Fund Appointed Counsel in Immigration Proceedings
The American Immigration Council joined a coalition letter asking Congress to support funding for appointed counsel for immigration proceedings for Fiscal Year 2022. Read More
Department Of Justice Urges Immigration Courts to Help Make Pro Bono Representation Easier
Research has long shown that access to a lawyer is one of the most important factors that determines whether an immigrant in removal proceedings will be able to remain in the United States. A new policy from the Biden administration is aimed to increase access to counsel by making… Read More
Council Sues to Press for Records About the Treatment of Black Immigrants in Detention
This FOIA suit seeks to compel ICE to release information about conditions, treatment, and outcomes in eight immigration detention facilities in the U.S. South. Read More
Council and Partners Comment on Changes to Streamlined Asylum Removal Proceedings
The Council, AILA, and the Immigration Justice Campaign commented on the proposed creation of “Dedicated Docket” in immigration court to complete the claims of asylum-seeking families within 300 days. Read More
Seeking Information About Board of Immigration Appeals’ Treatment of Motions to Reconsider
This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was filed to learn more about trends in the Board of Immigration Appeal’s treatment of motions to reconsider orders of removal. Read More
New Illinois Law Allows Public Defenders to Represent Immigrants Facing Deportation
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law in August that would allow the Cook County Public Defender to represent immigrants in the Chicago immigration court. The law is part of a movement to expand access to legal representation for people facing deportation. It comes on the heels of… Read More
Coalition Letter Expresses Concerns About the Housing of Support Services Within ICE
The Council responded to ICE's Request for Information for a National Case Management Program, expressing concern that ICE's management of the program would be a conflict of interest. Read More
Attorney General Garland Brings Back Administrative Closure for Immigration Judges
Attorney General Merrick Garland vacated Matter of Castro-Tum on July 15, reviving a key tool to help judges prioritize cases in the overburdened immigration court system and allow people facing deportation to pursue all available paths to legal status. In Matter of Cruz-Valdez, the attorney general reversed a decision… Read More
AG Garland Restores Judges’ Discretion to Manage an Overburdened Docket
Attorney General Merrick Garland today restored immigration judges’ ability to administratively close deportation cases. Read More
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