Children's Cases in Immigration Court: EOIR Director's Memo (Dec. 21, 2023)

EOIR, Dec. 23, 2023

"This Director’s Memorandum (DM) provides guidance to Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) adjudicators and personnel on cases in immigration court where the lead or sole respondent, or a witness, is a child. Cases where the respondent is a child include, but are not limited to, those where the respondent has been designated as an unaccompanied child. EOIR has a specialized juvenile docket at each immigration court with an established caseload of children’s cases. Children’s cases, whether or not on a juvenile docket, require special consideration. EOIR has provided, and will continue to provide, training to immigration judges on children’s cases. All immigration judges must be prepared to adjudicate children’s cases: they should familiarize themselves with the law and EOIR guidance on children’s cases, as well as with child-friendly courtroom procedures. This DM discusses EOIR’s specialized juvenile dockets and sets out guidelines for all children’s cases. This DM supersedes and rescinds Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum 17-03, Guidelines for Immigration Court Cases Involving Juveniles, Including Unaccompanied Alien Children."