The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is implementing more temporary closings to immigration courts. The objective is to avoid the congregation of large groups of people and possible spread of COVID-19.
EOIR hizo el late night announcement on Tuesday, giving little notice to people who had appointments.
Starting March 18, 2020, and until at least April 10, 2020, the following immigration courts will be closed:
| Immigration Court Name | Operational Status | Immigration court name to file emergency legal documents |
| Atlanta, GA – W. Peachtree Street | Closed | Atlanta – Ted Turner Drive (Arrested) |
| Charlotte, NC | Closed | Atlanta – Ted Turner Drive (Arrested) |
| Houston, TX – S. Gressner Road | Closed | Houston |
| Los Angeles, CA – Olive Street | Closed | Los Angeles – N. Los Angeles Street |
| Louisville, KY | Closed | New Orleans |
| Memphis, TN | Closed | New Orleans |
| Newark | Closed | Elizabeth |
| New York – Broadway | Closed | New York – Varick |
| New York – Federal Plaza | Closed | New York – Varick |
| Sacramento | Closed | San Francisco |
EOIR previously announced the closing of the immigration court in Seattle, Washington and the cancellation of master calendar hearings in all U.S. immigration courts for individuals. not detained until April 10, 2020.
EOIR will accept emergency paperwork for people with cases in closed immigration courts. The table above indicates the immigration court where emergency legal documents must be filed.
Document without urgency that had to be presented during the closing period of the affected immigration courts, must be presented no later than the first day that the courts resume their operations.
EOIR will reschedule immigration hearings for all affected cases and inform immigrants, or their authorized legal representatives, in writing of new hearing dates.
CALLED FOR ALL IMMIGRATION COURTS TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY
The National Association of Immigration Judges, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Professional Union of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Local 151 and the American Association of Immigration Lawyers, of which I am a member, have called for EOIR to temporarily close all immigration courts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In addition, multiple government offices, including the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), have temporarily closed their offices to the public.
EOIR has said it will continue to assess the status of the COVID-19 pandemic daily and will make decisions for each immigration court as more information becomes available.
TIPS AND WARNING
People with cases in immigration court must regularly monitor the EOIR website to learn about the operational status of immigration courts in the U.S.
Also, they must monitor the status of their immigration case through the online case information system in immigration courts or by calling 1-800-898-7180 (TDD 800-828-1120).
EOIR reported that information on the status of the case and the hearing date cannot be updated for those cases postponed due to operational changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.. After the issuance of a new immigration court hearing notice, that information will be updated.
EOIR’s automated information systems are not a substitute for official written notices from the immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals given to immigrants or their authorized legal representatives. These documents remain the official documents related to an immigration case and must be followed.
Please consult a licensed and experienced immigration attorney for guidance on your immigration cases in immigration court.
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