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DOJ provides backgrounder on EOIR’s strategic caseload reduction plan

  1. Original Date Announced

    December 5, 2017

    DOJ Public Affairs issues a "backgrounder" on EOIR’s strategic caseload reduction plan. It credits the increase in the immigration court caseload to (i) "numerous policy changes in recent years [that] have slowed down the adjudication of existing cases and incentivized further illegal immigration," (ii) "representatives of illegal aliens [who] have purposefully used tactics designed to delay adjudication of their clients' cases," and (iii) a reported 31% decrease in IJ productivity.

    To reduce EOIR's pending caseload, the backgrounder declares that EOIR must increase its adjudicatory capacity, increase IJ productivity, and manage incoming case receipts from DHS. Among the measures EOIR will be taking: (i) increasing the number of IJs, (ii) streamlining the hiring of IJs, (iii) piloting VTC immigration adjudications centers, (iv) "realigning the agency towards completing cases," (v) giving IJs clear guidance about timely adjudication, and (vi) strengthening EOIR's relationship with DHS to improve docket efficiency and IJ productivity.

    [ID #150]

    EOIR Caseload Reduction Backgrounder
  2. Effective Date

    December 5, 2017
  3. Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)

    • September 28, 2018

      EOIR Announces Largest Ever Immigration Judge Investiture

      Since the end of January 2017, 128 immigration judges have been sworn in.

      View Document
    • October 30, 2020

      American Immigration Council et al v. EOIR, No. 20-cv-3148 (D.D.C Oct. 30, 2020)

      On October 30th, immigration advocates sued EOIR after the agency failed to provide a substantive response to their FOIA request for the locations of existing immigration courts and immigration adjudication centers (IACs), the agency's plans for their expansion, and the contracts involved. The lawsuit was filed by the American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Chicago AILA Chapter, and the National Immigrant Justice Center in District Court for the District of Columbia.

      **Litigation is listed for informational purposes and is not comprehensive. For the current status of legal challenges, check other sources.*

      View Document

Current Status

Fully in Effect

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Change in Practice
Subject Matter: Hearings and Adjudications
Agencies Affected: EOIR

Pre Trump-Era Policies

Commentary

  • Justice report's findings clash with Sessions' actions

    Go to article
  • DOJ Ignores Its Own Evaluators’ Recommendations on Immigration Courts

    Go to article

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