Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section

The Office of Immigration Litigation, General Litigation and Appeals Section (OIL-GLA) litigates immigration cases originating in federal district courts (including appeals from those cases); defends the government in every petition for review filed in the United States Courts of Appeals; handles cases that are transferred to the district courts for nationality determinations; and files denaturalization complaints and other original actions implicating the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1101, et seq. These cases present challenging legal and factual issues, including whether an individual is subject to removal from the United States; whether a noncitizen is entitled to an immigration benefit; whether a noncitizen is subject to civil denaturalization; and whether an immigration action, policy, or program is lawful.

OIL-GLA attorneys write motions and briefs, try cases, present oral argument on motions and appeals, and coordinate with U.S. Attorney's Offices to ensure that there is uniform application and defense of our immigration laws. OIL-GLA defends and advises the Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Executive Office of Immigration Review, the Department of Health and Human Service, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as DHS's three immigration components (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection). OIL-GLA also coordinates with other components of the Department of Justice, including working with the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff and the Office of the Solicitor General to assess which appellate court decisions may warrant further review at either the circuit court or Supreme Court level.