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DHS, July 17, 2020
"The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) remain committed to resuming removal hearings for aliens subject to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) as expeditiously as possible. To lend greater certainty in a fluid COVID-19 environment, DHS has maintained close contact with the Department of State (DOS) and the Government of Mexico (GOM) and worked with DOJ to identify public health criteria to determine when hearings may resume swiftly and safely.
The criteria below outline the factors that DHS and DOJ will use to determine when to resume MPP hearings. Once the criteria are met, the Departments will provide public notification at least fifteen calendar days prior to resumption of the hearings with location-specific details. In order to resume MPP hearings in a responsible manner that will minimize risk to public health and the spread of disease, DHS plans to adhere to recommended federal guidance and protocols, including in particular the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) social-distancing and sanitization standards. DHS is working to secure the equipment and resources necessary to support this safe resumption of MPP hearings. The use and application of these criteria are subject to continuing evaluation:
Criteria to Restart MPP Hearings
Once the threshold criteria above are satisfied, DHS and DOJ will take the following steps to ensure that MPP hearings can safely resume:
Safeguards to Protect DHS Employees and Aliens in MPP
DHS continues to work closely with DOJ, DOS, and GOM to explore every available option to resume removal hearings for aliens subject to MPP as soon as possible, with as much flexibility as existing statutes, regulations, and guidelines allow.
Individuals should continue to check on case status in English and Spanish by calling the Automated Case Information Hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or visiting the EOIR Automated Case Information portal.
[1] California: https://covid19.ca.gov/roadmap/#top; Arizona: https://azgovernor.gov/governor/reopening-guidance;
Texas: https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/EO-GA-26_expanded_opening_COVID-19.pdf
[2] https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/travel-advisory-alert-global-level-4-health-advisory-issue.html
[3] https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/coronavirus-global
[4] https://coronavirus.gob.mx/semaforo/
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html
[6] For DOJ/ Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) requirements, see https://www.justice.gov/eoir/page/file/1284706/download
[7] DOJ will have its own requirements for EOIR courthouses.
[8] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/cleaning-disinfecting-decision-tool.html"