Board of Immigration Appeals: Streamlining

This proposed rule would establish a streamlined appellate review procedure for the Board of Immigration Appeals. The proposed rule is in response to the enormous and unprecedented increase in the number of appeals being filed with the Board. The rule recognizes that in a significant number of the cases the Board decides, the result reached by the adjudicator below is correct and will not be changed on appeal. In these cases, a single permanent Board Member will be given authority to review the record and affirm the result reached below without issuing an opinion in the case. This procedure will promote fairness by enabling the Board to render decisions in a more timely manner, while allowing it to concentrate its resources primarily on those cases in which the decision below may be incorrect, or where a new or significant legal or procedural issue is presented. In addition, the proposed rule provides that a single Board Member or the Chief Attorney Examiner may adjudicate certain additional types of cases, motions, or other procedural or ministerial appeals, where the result is clearly dictated by the statute, regulations, or precedential decisions.