Department of Justice
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Improves Asylum Clock Policies
FALLS CHURCH, Va -- The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced new guidance on the EOIR asylum clock for immigration judges, court administrators and immigration court staff.
EOIR has issued Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum 11-02: The Asylum Clock to provide uniform policies regarding the EOIR asylum clock for all immigration courts. The memorandum goes into effect on Dec. 19, 2011. In addition to increasing efficiency by reducing the time that immigration judges and court staff spend on administering the asylum clock, the new guidance addresses concerns expressed by members of the public.
The EOIR asylum clock is an administrative tool that measures the length of time an asylum application has been pending for each asylum applicant in removal proceedings, not including any delays requested or caused by the applicant. EOIR tracks the time an asylum application has been pending to implement the asylum adjudication goal of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The new guidelines clarify several issues that affect how the asylum clock runs including the starting, stopping, and restarting of the asylum clock; the one-year asylum application filing deadline; and the rescheduling of hearings.
A copy of the memorandum can be found at the following link: http://www.justice.gov/eoir/efoia/ocij/oppm11/11-02.pdf.
- EOIR -
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR's immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR's Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.