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Original Date Announced
December 5, 2017DOJ 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 BackgrounderEffective Date
December 5, 2017Subsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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September 28, 2018
EOIR Announces Largest Ever Immigration Judge Investiture
Since the end of January 2017, 128 immigration judges have been sworn in.
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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.*
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Current Status
Fully in EffectOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: Hearings and AdjudicationsAgencies Affected: EOIRPre Trump-Era Policies
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April 6, 2017
See generally April 2017 Booz Allen Report analyzing immigration courts and making recommendations
Booz Allen Report: Legal Case Study
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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New Policy
Original Source:
EOIR Backgrounder on EOIR Strategic Caseload Reduction Plan
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Prior Policy
Original Source:
Legal Case Study: Summary Report
- Subsequent Action
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Subsequent Action
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Commentary
Original Source:
Commentary on Booz Allen Report
- Commentary
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Other
Original Source:
Waiting to be thrown out: Verge Report
Commentary
Justice report's findings clash with Sessions' actions
Go to articleDOJ Ignores Its Own Evaluators’ Recommendations on Immigration Courts
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