#EOIR
LightNews LightNews
chrisgeidner.bsky.social
NOTE: This was, presumably, done by the former head of EOIR, James McHenry, who is the acting attorney general.

So, the former head of EOIR, when promoted to be acting AG, fired the current head of EOIR after having been two rungs lower on the org chart at the start of the day.
The EOIR org chart
January 21, 2025 at 12:36 AM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
At the immigration courts, an extraordinarily aggressive new policy memo begins to set down justifications for widespread firing of immigration judges hired during the Biden admin.

www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
OOD PM 25-24 Effective: February 28, 2025 To: All of EOIR From: Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director Date: February 28, 2025 ADJUDICATOR PERSONNEL MATTERS PURPOSE: Re-establish consistent and lawful practices regarding EOIR adjudicator personnel matters OWNER: Office of the Director AUTHORITY: 8 C.F.R. § 1003.0(b) CANCELLATION: None Beginning in 2021, EOIR engaged in a number of questionable and problematic personnel practices concerning adjudicators1 that called its integrity, credibility, and impartiality into serious question. At best these practices were unexplained, unwarranted, and unprofessional departures from past practices or policies; at worst, they may have constituted unlawful prohibited personnel practices (PPPs). 2 In either case, this PM resets EOIR’s policies regarding adjudicator personnel actions in order to ensure EOIR’s hiring of adjudicators is based solely on merit (and any applicable preference granted by law), that all hiring actions comply with appropriate and consistent procedures, that allegations of similar misconduct by adjudicators are treated consistently in a similar manner, and that any disciplinary or corrective action is consistent with the seriousness of the misconduct.
March 1, 2025 at 3:41 AM
chrisgeidner.bsky.social
Here's the link: www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
mattcameron.bsky.social Matt Cameron @mattcameron.bsky.social · Apr 15
1/ The full decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals upholding Mahmoud Khalil's deportation at Marco Rubio's specific request has just dropped. The BIA precedent on this was already bad & it was always going to have to be resolved by a higher court, so no surprises here. But a few things:
caption for BIA's decision in Matter of M-K-, 29 I&N Dec. 556 (BIA 2026)
April 15, 2026 at 10:09 PM
hoppock.bsky.social
EOIR quietly issued a new 5-page policy on public observation of immigration court hearings this week.

It contains some significant new limitations, most notably for people trying to observe hearings remotely on WebEx. Here are the changes I've noticed.

www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
Fact Sheet September 2026 | United States Department of Justice
www.justice.gov
September 27, 2026 at 3:51 AM
immlawachall.bsky.social
Board of Immigration Appeals: Our “there was no funny business in this case” published decision has people asking a lot of questions already answered by our decision

www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
September 25, 2026 at 9:03 PM
hoppock.bsky.social
EOIR has a new "fact sheet" out saying new immigration judges receive 5 consecutive weeks of training: intensive classroom instruction, supervised hearings, and mentoring. I got the May 2026 materials through FOIA. The fact sheet is wrong. 🧵
www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi...
August 10, 2026 at 4:37 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
CORRECTION: This rule does not go into effect tomorrow, it goes into effect 30 days after tomorrow.

My apology.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Executive Office for Immigration Review 8 CFR Parts 1003, 1208, and 1240 [Docket No. EOIR-26-AB37; Dir. Order No. 02-2026] RIN 1125-AB37 Appellate Procedures for the Board of Immigration Appeals AGENCY: Executive Office for Immigration Review (“EOIR”), Department of Justice. ACTION: Interim final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: This interim final rule (“IFR”) amends Department of Justice (“Department” or “DOJ”) regulations to streamline administrative appellate review by the Board of Immigration Appeals (“Board” or “BIA”) of decisions by Immigration Judges by making review of such decisions on the merits discretionary, by setting appropriate times for briefing in cases that are reviewed on the merits, and by streamlining other aspects of the appellate process to ensure timely adjudications and avoid adding to the already sizeable backlog at the Board. Additionally, the Department is making various technical and non-substantive changes to its regulations. DATES: Effective date: This IFR is effective [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]
February 5, 2026 at 2:51 PM
louisevans.bsky.social
Xu's appointment listed here: www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi...

Worth noting that Xu is not an Article III judge but an administrative official.
www.justice.gov
July 15, 2025 at 5:06 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
NEW: EOIR implements new minimum fees in the OBBBA on immigration court request for relief. As we worried, they're stacked on TOP of current fees:

- Appeals and motions to reopen will cost $1,010
- Applying for a green card will cost $2,940
- Applying for cancellation of removal will cost $1,600
III. EOIR Fees under OBBBA Applications for Relief or Protection from Removal Name & Form Fee Amount Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) $2,940 Asylum (Form I-589) $100 Annual Asylum Fee $100 (annually every calendar year that the asylum application is pending) Cancellation of Removal for Certain Permanent Residents (Form EOIR-42A) $700 Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status for Certain Nonpermanent Residents (Form EOIR-42B) $1,600 Suspension of Deportation (Form I-881) $700 Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) (Form I-821) $500 Waiver of Inadmissibility (Form I-601) $2,100 Board Appeals Name & Form Fee Amount Appeal from an IJ decision (Form EOIR-26) $1,010, except for bond appeals, which have no fee Appeal from a decision of a DHS officer (Form EOIR-29) $1,010 Appeal in a practitioner discipline case (Form EOIR45) $2,000 Motions to Reopen or Reconsider Filed by Aliens Name Fee Amount Motion to reopen or reconsider before the Immigration Judge $1,045, except no fee if: • motions to reopen an in absentia removal order filed in accordance with INA § 240(b)(5)(C)(ii); 8 or • motions to reopen an in absentia deportation order filed in accordance with former INA § 242B(c)(3)(B) (prior to April 1, 1997) Motion to reopen or reconsider before the Board $1,010
July 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
annabower.bsky.social
The emails came to light in a suit brought by legal aid groups that administered programs for non-citizens and unaccompanied minors.

The documents show that DOGE directed senior DOJ officials to terminate contracts for the programs in early April.

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/on-d...
From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Owen, Sirce E. (EOIR) Thursday, April 3, 2025 8:45 PM Murray, Christina (JMD) Burghard, Christina (EOIR); Radics, Gregory (EOIR) Acacia contract Please notify Acacia immediately that we are terminating their contract as of 11:59 pm. E.S.T., Tuesday, April 8, 2025. It is my understanding that DOGE contacted JMD this afternoon and instructed them to terminate the contract. I was not privy to that conversation, but whoever they spoke to at JMD knows the basis for the termination. Sirce E. Owen Director (Acting)
April 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM
mattcameron.bsky.social
still don't know where he is. ICE officially still says that he is in Plymouth (MA), and the case is now completely missing from the EOIR online system. We'll be getting answers today.
April 8, 2025 at 1:32 PM
kenwhite.bsky.social
Incidentally, Judge ShaSha Xu, who permitted this in the example above, was appointed in 2023 by Executive Office of Immigration Review. Not clear on how EOIR works so not sure how accurate it is to call that a Biden administration appointee.
July 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
The new memo from Acting Director Owens is here. www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
www.justice.gov
April 11, 2025 at 10:45 PM
radleybalko.bsky.social
Just got word from an immigration attorney: Bondi just announced the first batch of 11 permanent and 25 temporary military judges for immigration courts.

www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
www.justice.gov
October 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Link to the decision here: www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
www.justice.gov
August 13, 2026 at 1:33 PM
bradlander.bsky.social
If an immigrant misses their newly accelerated hearing, then a judge could order their removal. Please help urgently spread the word and encourage folks to check their case status at justice.gov/eoir. (2/2)
June 6, 2026 at 6:37 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Full decision here. www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
www.justice.gov
April 22, 2025 at 9:39 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
The new decision comes after the Trump admin announced in July that it would take the legal position that a 1996 law barred release on bond anyone who crossed illegally — despite no admin having EVER made that claim before. Now the BIA greenlights it.

Decision here: www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
www.justice.gov
September 5, 2025 at 9:06 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
NEW: The Acting Director of the Immigration Courts issues a new memo purporting to authorize immigration judges to deny asylum applications without ever having a hearing.

It's not clear that she has legal authority to do this; as Director, she isn't permitted to set precedent.
OOD PM 25-28 Effective: April 11, 2025 To: All of EOIR From: Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director Date: April 11, 2025 PRETERMISSION OF LEGALLY INSUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS FOR ASYLUM PURPOSE: Provide guidance on the legal standards related to the pretermission of a legally insufficient application for asylum OWNER: Office of the Director AUTHORITY: 8 C.F.R. § 1003.0(b) CANCELLATION: None EOIR adjudicators have a duty to efficiently manage their dockets. See, e.g., 8 C.F.R. 1003.10(b). It is clear from the almost 4 million pending cases on EOIR’s docket, that has not been happening. Accordingly, this Policy Memorandum (PM) makes clear that adjudicators are not prohibited from taking—and, in fact, should take—all appropriate action to immediately resolve cases on their dockets that do not have viable legal paths for relief or protection from removal. Aliens in removal proceedings have the burden of demonstrating eligibility for any type of relief or protection from removal. 8 U.S.C. 1229a(C)(4); 8 C.F.R. § 1240.8(d). If an alien fails to set forth prima facie eligibility for relief, such application generally can be pretermitted. Although it is well-settled that aliens must demonstrate prima facie eligibility for relief for certain applications, in certain contexts there appears to be a misapprehension by adjudicators regarding whether those same principles apply to applications for asylum. Consequently, this PM provides guidance to adjudicators who encounter legally insufficient asylum applications.
April 11, 2025 at 10:43 PM
gabrielmalor.bsky.social
Wow.

Fed. judge tells DHS, ICE, Sec. Noem, AG Bondi, EOIR and others that they are harming "the fabric of this very nation" by defying a court order that vacated their automatic-detention policy.

Order is linked here:

www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...
Respondents have already wasted valuable time and resources. Worst of all, not only does detention without due process deprive members of the Bond Eligible Class of their liberty, economic stability, and fundamental dignity, but it also harms their families, communities, and the fabric of this very nation. IT IS SO ORDERED.
February 19, 2026 at 2:45 AM
hoppock.bsky.social
The last thing I'll say is that even these data aren't entirely reliable, because all we have for now is the public data EOIR itself releases. And yet EOIR has officially denied that any of this is happening in the below article. So, I have concerns about veracity. www.kare11.com/article/news...
Somali 'Rocket Docket' | Lawyers say fast-tracked asylum cases could have life or death impact
Mpls attorneys representing Somali asylum seekers say every one of their cases was rapidly put on the docket last month. They fear they are being set up to fail.
www.kare11.com
March 25, 2026 at 12:58 PM
jamesbenton.bsky.social
Served our country most of his adult life. WTAF is going on???

www.justice.gov/eoir/office-...
Office of Information Technology
www.justice.gov
February 25, 2025 at 10:04 PM
tituslegaldesign.com
Meanwhile, EOIR just announced they're shutting down an immigration court in Batavia, NY — on Friday.

It was one of the agency's satellite courtrooms, attached to DHS's Buffalo (really Batavia) 'processing center', where several hundred ICE detainees are held on any given day.
July 21, 2026 at 5:52 PM
sailormichael.bsky.social
Glad Joe said this. Hezbollah was doing shit in Lebanon in my Active Duty days and killing folks.
www.justice.gov/eoir/page/fi...
June 21, 2026 at 7:30 PM
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Here are the two new decisions:

Matter of S-S-F-M-: reinstating Matter of A-B-: www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...

Matter of R-E-R-M- & J-D-R-M-: reinstating Matter of L-E-A- www.justice.gov/eoir/media/1...
September 3, 2025 at 12:54 AM