Otero Immigration Court

• Court Announcements
• About the Court
• Contact the Court
• Immigration Court Procedures
• Helpful Links

Court Announcements

• Internet-Based Hearings Access Information
• Operational Status Information
• Administrative Control List
• More Court Information

About the Court

The Otero Immigration Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is a component of the Executive Office for Immigration Review under the Department of Justice.

Contact the Court

Address

26 McGregor Range Road, Door #1
Chaparral, NM 88081

Hours

• Court Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Window Filing Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone

575-824-8900

The immigration court does not accept faxes or other electronic submissions unless the transmission has been specifically requested by the immigration court staff or the immigration judge. Unauthorized transmissions are not made part of the record and are discarded without consideration of the document or notice to the sender.

Parking/Transit

There is no public transportation to the Otero Immigration Court. The court is located at the Otero Detention Center which is approximately a 40 minute drive from El Paso. There is ample parking in an open lot in front of the court’s building.

Building Access and Security Screening Process

Lobby Entrance

The Court is located in the last building off the road (drive past the main Detention Center). From the open parking lot, visitors may enter the building  by ringing the doorbell at Door #2 and waiting for court personnel to grant access.

Security Procedures

All visitors to the immigration court must undergo a security screening through a metal detector machine as well as a handbag screening each time they visit the immigration court. Shoes may be required to be removed, if needed.

Visitors must not bring any cameras, video or recording equipment.

Visitors will be escorted by guards to the appropriate courtroom.

Immigration Court Procedures

For information regarding procedures for practice before the immigration courts, please review the Immigration Court Practice Manual.

Helpful Links and Information 

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are therefore separate from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). For more information about those DHS offices, please see the following links:

• USCIS Asylum Office
• USCIS field office
• ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office
• ICE Office of the Chief Counsel

News Media/Congressional Inquiries

News media and congressional inquiries regarding the immigration court must be directed to the EOIR Communications and Legislative Affairs Division (CLAD):

Communications and Legislative Affairs Division
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1800
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-305-0289 (phone)
PAO.EOIR@usdoj.gov

Holidays and Emergencies

The immigration court is open Monday to Friday except for federal holidays. The Office of Personnel Management publishes a list of the observed dates of every federal holiday by year online at this link: OPM holidays. Additionally, the court may have to unexpectedly close due to inclement weather or another emergency. When necessary, information on immigration court closures or changes to the immigration court’s operating hours is available at the following links: (1) Twitter and (2) Facebook.

eRegistry

Attorneys and accredited representatives are required to register with EOIR in order to represent respondents in immigration court. More information is available at the following link: eRegistry Validation Process.

Legal Self-Help Center

The EOIR, Office of Legal Access Programs has created numerous self-help materials with many helpful resources for respondents, including information on what to do if respondents have moved or missed a hearing.

Notarios

EOIR warns respondents about immigration fraud perpetrated by notarios who claim to provide legal assistance but are unable to represent respondents in immigration court, provide legal services, or give legal advice. For more information, please see the following document:

• Fact Sheet, “EOIR’s Programs to Fight Fraud, Abuse, and Ineffective Representation in Immigration Proceedings” (March 2016).

Appeals

Immigration court decisions are first appealable to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Instructions on how to file an appeal and the Appeals Form EOIR-26, Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge, are available online in the E-26 and appeal instructions. The BIA website contains more information on the appeals process and procedure.

Virtual Law Library

The EOIR Virtual Law Library (VLL) contains many other legal resources and country conditions research resources as well as other reference materials.

Observing Court

Generally, immigration court proceedings are open to the public. An overview of when immigration court hearings might be closed as well as general guidelines for behavior when observing immigration court hearings are available at the following link: Observing Immigration Court Hearings. Note, the use of electronic devices, including audio/visual recordings of hearings and taking photographs, is prohibited in immigration court.