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Proposed RuleSignificant2023-181992023-09-08

Appellate Procedures and Decisional Finality in Immigration Proceedings; Administrative Closure

Justice Department, Executive Office for Immigration Review

Abstract

In December 2020, the Department of Justice issued a final rule (the "AA96 Final Rule") establishing novel limits on the authority of immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA" or "Board") to manage their dockets and efficiently dispose of cases. Among other changes, the AA96 Final Rule would have required the BIA to set simultaneous briefing schedules for every appeal, limited the authority of immigration judges and the BIA to temporarily pause cases while the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") adjudicates a noncitizen's pending visa application, and restricted the BIA's discretion to remand matters to immigration judges in light of legal and factual errors. The AA96 Final Rule was enjoined shortly after its issuance in March 2021, and it has not been in effect since that date. After careful reconsideration, the Department proposes to restore longstanding procedures in place prior to the AA96 Final Rule, including administrative closure, and to clarify and codify other established practices. Given the aforementioned injunction, the proposed regulatory language largely reflects the currently operative status quo. The Department believes that this rule will promote the efficient and expeditious adjudication of cases, afford immigration judges and the BIA flexibility to efficiently allocate their limited resources, and protect due process for parties before immigration judges and the BIA.

Action & Dates

Action
Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Dates
Electronic comments must be submitted, and written comments must be postmarked or otherwise indicate a shipping date on or before November 7, 2023. The electronic Federal Docket Management System at www.regulations.gov will accept electronic comments until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on that date.

CFR References

Topics

Administrative practice and procedureAliensImmigration

Public Comment

Comments Close
2023-11-07

Document Excerpt

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review 8 CFR Parts 1001, 1003, 1239, and 1240 [Docket No. EOIR 021-0410; AG Order No. 5738-2023] RIN 1125-AB18 AGENCY: Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice. ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. SUMMARY: In December 2020, the Department of Justice issued a final rule (the “AA96 Final Rule”) establishing novel limits on the authority of immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals (“BIA” or “Board”) to manage their dockets and efficiently dispose of cases. Among other changes, the AA96 Final Rule would have required the BIA to set simultaneous briefing schedules for every appeal, limited the authority of immigration judges and the BIA to temporarily pause cases while the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) adjudicates a noncitizen's pending visa application, and restricted the BIA's discretion to remand matters to immigration judges in light of legal and factual errors. The AA96 Final Rule was enjoined shortly after its issuance in March 2021, and it has not been in effect since that date. After careful reconsideration, the Department proposes to restore longstanding procedures in place prior to the AA96 Final Rule, including administrative closure, and to clarify and codify other established practices. Given the aforementioned injunction, the proposed regulatory language largely reflects the currently operative s

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Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.

Full Document

Citation: 88 FR 62242