“Massacre” at the BIA Portends Bigger Changes at EOIR

Last week, 13 of 28 members of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) were purged. Those targeted include appellate judges appointed by the Biden Administration, some of whom were still on probation (BIA judges have a two-year probationary period) and others who had completed their probation. The firings, which go into effect next month, seem not to have complied with proper legal procedures, and are likely to be challenged in court by at least some of the terminated judges.  

Having talked with people on the inside, this mass firing sounds like it is only the beginning. I’m told that the Trump Administration plans to radically re-make the Immigration Court system in order to dramatically reduce due process protections for non-citizens.

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ICE Raids: Ambition Meets Reality

Donald Trump arrived in office with a pledge to deport “millions” of criminal non-citizens. Even at the time he made these claims, the President’s plans seemed unrealistic. But now that he is in office, and rhetoric must contend with reality, it appears that the new Administration is falling short of its goals–at least for the time being. 

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If TPS Is Cancelled, Could Asylum Be an Option?

In the waning days of the Biden Administration, DHS extended Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for Venezuelans until October 2026. Last week, the Trump Administration rescinded that decision. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people from Venezuela are set to lose status over the next several months.

For Venezuelans–and people from other countries who may lose TPS–what are the options? (more…)