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2.0

EOIR issues Policy Memorandum 25-27 restricting use of the status docket

  1. Original Date Announced

    March 21, 2025

    EOIR Acting Director Owen issued Policy Memorandum (PM) 25-27 rescinding and canceling Director’s Memorandum (DM) 23-01, which was issued in October 2022 under the Biden administration. PM 25-27 reinstates PM 19-13, a prior memorandum issued during President Trump's first administration, restricting the use of the "status docket" in immigration proceedings.

    Immigration Judges (IJs) use the status docket to pause cases during the pendency of ancillary proceedings, adjudications, or other matters that may have an influence on the outcome of the case (e.g., approval of an immigrant visa petition could support deprioritizing adjudication). By reinstating PM 19-13, the only cases that can be placed on the status docket are where (1) the Immigration Judge (IJ) must continue the cases by binding authority to await a USCIS adjudication of an application or a petition; (2) the IJ must reserve a decision rather than completing a case pursuant to law or policy; and (3) the case is subject to a federal court deadline.

    PM 25-27 overturns DM 23-01, stating that Biden's DM was issued without providing sufficient justification, "conspicuously failed to acknowledge longstanding caselaw," and that it encouraged "the placement of cases on the status docket in which a continuance was not legally required . . . overrid[ing] the decisional independence of Immigration Judges."

    Trump 2.0 [ID #1636]

    2025.03.21 EOIR 25-27 - Cancellation of DM 23-01 and Reinstatement of PM 19-13
  2. Effective Date

    March 21, 2025

Current Status

None

Original Trump Policy Status

Status: Final/Actual
Trump Administration Action: Agency Directive
Subject Matter: Hearings and Adjudications
Agencies Affected: EOIR

Associated or Derivative Policies

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To provide information, corrections, or feedback, please email IPTP.feedback@gmail.com