April 5, 2007
Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office
In York
YORK, Pa. - Andrew R. Arthur was sworn in today as an immigration judge for the York Immigration Court during an investiture ceremony at 2:00 p.m. at the Colonial Courthouse. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Gary W. Smith, from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, Va., administered the oath of office.
Judge Arthur joins the ranks of more than 200 immigration judges located in 54 immigration courts throughout the nation. Immigration judges are responsible for conducting formal administrative proceedings to determine whether foreign-born individuals who are charged with violations of federal immigration law should be removed from the United States or may be granted relief from removal. Immigration judges decide each case independently and their decisions are final unless appealed or certified to the Board of Immigration Appeals. In the past year, immigration judges completed more than 300,000 matters. They also are authorized to administer oaths of citizenship to candidates for naturalization.
Andrew R. Arthur was appointed as an immigration judge in November 2006. He received a bachelor of arts degree in 1988 from the University of Virginia and a juris doctorate in 1992 from George Washington University School of Law. From July 2001 to October 2006, he served as counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims in Washington, D.C. From 1994 to 2001, Judge Arthur served in various positions at the former Immigration and Naturalization Service, including Assistant District Counsel in Baltimore and San Francisco, and Associate General Counsel in Washington, D.C. He served as an attorney advisor in the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer at the Executive Office for Immigration Review from June 1992 to September 1994. Judge Arthur is a member of the Maryland Bar.
- EOIR -
EOIR is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases. Specifically, under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers the federal immigration laws by conducting immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three components: the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the numerous immigration courts located throughout the United States where immigration judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of immigration judge decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to providing the fair, expeditious, and uniform application of the nation's immigration laws in all cases.
Information about EOIR immigration proceedings is available on EOIR’s website at http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/press/subject.htm.
| Contact: | Office of Legislative and Public Affairs |
| (703) 305-0289 Fax: (703) 605-0365 | |
| Internet: | www.usdoj.gov/eoir |