Immigration courts nationwide are continuing to adjudicate detained cases. Court functions that support the detained caseload will continue, but other functions are suspended.
For specific information about a particular court, please visit:
http://www.justice.gov/eoir/ICstatus.htm
The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) is processing emergency stay requests as well as cases where the alien is detained, including case appeals, motions, federal court remands, and bonds. The stay line is open (for emergency stay calls only), but all other telephone lines have been switched to closed status. The BIA Clerk’s Office staff is accepting all filings and will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
During the government shutdown, the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer will maintain its ability to issue subpoenas and accept for filing any complaints that must be filed to comply with statutory deadlines.
In Orlando, evidence of the shutdown’s effect was on display at the two-story building that houses the immigration court in an office park east of downtown. A sign on the door said the court was closed except for cases involving “detention.” All others would be “re-scheduled when the government re-opens,” the sign said.