EOIR Extends Effective Date of the
Immigration Court Practice Manual

The “Immigration Court Practice Manual” Is Effective on July 1, 2008

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced today that it has extended the effective date of the “Immigration Court Practice Manual” to July 1, 2008, in response to requests from members of the bar.  The new date provides an additional 3 months for interested parties to become familiar with the Practice Manual. 

The Practice Manual was published on February 28, 2008, and provides uniform procedures, recommendations, and requirements for persons who present cases before the immigration courts. When the Practice Manual goes into effect on July 1, 2008, local operating procedures for immigration courts will no longer be used.

The Immigration Court Practice Manual is currently available on EOIR’s website at http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/.  EOIR will continue to update the manual online, as needed, to reflect legal and policy changes, as well as responses to comments from users.

– EOIR –

EOIR, an agency within the Department of Justice, is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases.  Specifically, under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers 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 interpretation and application of immigration law in all cases.