when case says attorney general is it referring to an immigration judge

by Jerrold Dooley 9 min read

If the attorney general doesn’t like that precedent, he has the power to change it — by referring a case to himself after the Board of Immigration Appeals has reviewed it, issuing a new ruling, and telling the immigration courts to abide by the precedent that ruling sets in future. Attorneys general rarely ever use that power.

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Why are attorneys general interfering with immigration judges?

entering on duty through the Attorney General Honor’s Program. Judge Piateski is a member of the Maryland State Bar. Zol D. Rainey, Unit Chief Immigration Judge, Richmond Immigration Adjudication Center Zol D. Rainey was appointed as a Unit Chief Immigration Judge to begin supervisory immigration court duties and hearing cases in December 2021.

What is an immigration judge called?

Jun 25, 2019 · The attorney general categorically encourages deportations by giving an immigration judge a personal stake in every case outcome In contravention of every known norm respecting impartiality, the attorney general has pitted immigration judges against due process by threatening to punish the judge—including through termination—for failing to adhere to …

What is the Attorney General’s certification power in immigration cases?

Office of the Attorney General (1) An immigration judge may grant a motion for a continuance of removal proceedings only “for good cause shown.” 8 C.F.R. § 1003.29. (2) The goodcause standard is a substantive requirement that- limits the discretion of immigration judges and prohibits them from granting continuances for any reason or no

Are immigration judges deportation enforcers?

Feb 20, 2018 · Brief Argues Attorney General Lacks Impartiality Necessary to Decide Immigration Cases. In a rare move, Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently referred an immigration case to himself, utilizing a regulation that gives attorney generals the power to reconsider cases previously decided by the Board of Immigration Appeals.

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What do Immigration Judges do?

An immigration judge also decides cases of aliens in various types of removal proceedings. ... During the proceedings, an immigration judge may grant any type of immigration relief or benefit to an alien, including to his or her family members.

How long does it take for immigration judge to make a decision?

If the judge issues a written decision, it will be mailed to the immigrant or, if applicable, the immigrant's attorney. The decision of the immigration judge is final unless either party appeals it to the Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 days.

Are immigration judge decisions published?

Published decisions also constitute precedent that binds the BIA, the immigration courts, and DHS. The vast majority of the BIA's decisions are unpublished, but the BIA periodically selects cases for publication. EOIR may also publish certain DHS decisions.Dec 16, 2021

Are Immigration Judges Article 3 judges?

Unlike a United States District Court judge, an immigration judge's authority is not derived from Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the Judicial Branch.

What are the chances of winning immigration appeal?

The Odds Of Winning Are Against You Few file an appeal. Only 35,000 to 40,000 – less than 20% – keep fighting to stay in the United States with their wife and children. Of the 35,000 to 40,000 who decide to fight the immigration court decision . . . . . . Only 10% win their appeals.Jun 30, 2009

How many immigration cases are pending?

State = California, Court Location = Los AngelesStatePending CasesEntire US1,636,999Texas262,243California213,599Florida194,42050 more rows

Can you appeal an immigration judge decision?

If you decide to appeal, then you (or your attorney) will have 30 days from the immigration judge's decision in which to file with the B.I.A. (See 8 C.F.R. § 1003.38.) The notice is on a form called Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge, Form EOIR-26.

How long does it take for an immigration appeal to be heard?

The BIA states that it generally seeks to adjudicate cases in no more than 180 days, however appeals can take between 8-18 months (depending on the novelty and complexity of the legal issues being reviewed). The BIA's decision is generally the final decision in the case.

How do you cite an immigration judge decision?

The proper citation form includes the volume number, the reporter abbreviation (“I&N Dec.”), the first page of the decision, the name of the adjudicator (BIA, A.G., etc.), and the year of the decision. Example: Matter of Gomez-Giraldo, 20 I&N Dec. 957 (BIA 1995).Dec 22, 2020

Are immigration judges ALJ?

Immigration judges (IJs) are a type of federal administrative adjudicator sometimes collectively referred to as administrative judges, or non-ALJ adjudicators.

Are immigration judges Article 2 judges?

The Executive Branch is set forth in Article II of the United States Constitution, meaning that immigration judges are “Article II judges.” Article III of the United States Constitution sets forth the judicial branch, which now includes the Supreme Court of the United States, Federal circuit courts (appellate), and ...

What is an Article 1 judge?

Article I tribunals include Article I courts (also called legislative courts) set up by Congress to review agency decisions, military courts-martial appeal courts, ancillary courts with judges appointed by Article III appeals court judges, or administrative agencies and administrative law judges (ALJs).

Why is the immigration court system failing?

The immigration court system has failed to fulfill the constitutional and statutory promise of fair and impartial case-by-case adjudication for noncitizens in removal proceedings largely because the attorney general’s unitary control has always bent the system toward enforcement and away from fair adjudication. This unitary control has enabled the weaponization of the court system under the Trump administration. It also undermines the ability of immigration judges to undertake independent adjudications and to provide full and fair hearings, and simultaneously fails to hold judges accountable for due process violations.

What is the purpose of the Immigration and Nationality Act?

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the attorney general of the United States is required to craft a functioning immigration court system: a system that provides genuine case-by-case adjudications by impartial judges who apply existing law to the evidence on the record following a full and fair hearing .

How has the Attorney General abused his power?

Under the Trump administration, the attorney general has abused his power by instructing new judges to decide their cases in ways that further the Department of Justice’s enforcement and deterrence goals, prioritizing speed over fair case-by-case adjudication.

When was Castro Tum deported?

When Reynaldo Castro-Tum was ordered deported on July 26, 2018, the record of proceedings—the official record of what takes place in a U.S. immigration court—appeared deceptively normal: A judge heard the case and, based on the record, issued a ruling. That is what judges in courts throughout the United States do every single day. In the federal court system, as in state court systems, judges strive to do “their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them,” as Chief Justice John Roberts has said.

Who is Dale Swartz?

Dale Swartz, a founding member of the National Forum on Immigration and Refugee Policy, testified before Congress about the issue.

What is the role of immigration judges in the Trump administration?

Under the Trump administration, immigration judges are viewed as the attorney general’s proxies for enforcing deportations—not as independent case-by-case adjudicators. Over the past two years, the attorneys general have plainly encouraged biased decision-making, including by fomenting judges’ distrust of asylum seekers and their attorneys.

How should immigration judges be selected?

Immigration judges should be selected through a transparent process with more rigorous criteria to ensure the creation of a high-quality judge corps that has deep knowledge of immigration law and is well-suited to adjudicate removal cases fairly.

How many immigration judges are there in the US?

There are about 500 immigration judges nationwide. They preside over asylum cases, meaning they decide who gets to stay in the U.S. and who must be deported. When President Joe Biden took office, there was already a backlog of 1.3 million cases, and the monthly crossing totals keep rising.

How many judges did Biden hire?

The Biden administration has called for hiring 100 new immigration judges as part of its budget. But with their union in jeopardy, four judges — Marks, Khan and two retired judges — said they're fighting for their judicial independence.

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