EOIR Updates BIA, Immigration Court Practice Manuals (Aug. 26, 2022)

EOIR, Aug. 26, 2022

"For over two decades, the public has relied upon the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s public-facing guidance for practice before the agency. The Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual was first published in 1999, the Immigration Court Practice Manual in 2008, and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer Practice Manual in 2021. Together, these manuals have been vital in providing guidance to practitioners nationwide and fostering consistency throughout the court system. EOIR is in the process of conducting a comprehensive review of the Board and Immigration Court Practice Manuals. In May, EOIR solicited written feedback on the manuals and held a public listening session. We are grateful to those who responded – whether by submitting written comments, participating in the listening session, or both. We received a host of positive recommendations and constructive criticisms from private practitioners, non-profit groups, and academia. In response to comments from the public, EOIR is once again making the Board and Immigration Court Practice Manuals available as downloadable PDF documents. In the Board Practice Manual, we have extended and clarified the page limit for briefs and eliminated the page limit for motions, and we have revised the provision on briefing deadlines and extension requests. In the Immigration Court Practice Manual, we have clarified certain default filing deadlines for non-detained respondents. We have made other changes throughout both manuals to update terminology and to ensure the information we provide to the public is accurate. EOIR’s Practice Manuals are “living” documents and will be revised to reflect changes in procedure and feedback from the public. EOIR will update the manuals on a regular basis going forward. We are still reviewing the comments we received in response to our solicitation and at the listening session for inclusion in future updates. We also remind the public that comments may be submitted at any time; information on how to do so is at the Immigration Court Practice Manual Chapter 13 (Public Input) and the Board of Immigration Appeals Practice Manual Chapter 14.3 (Public Input). The Board and Immigration Court Practice Manuals, along with additional reference materials, are available on EOIR’s Reference Materials webpage."