1.5 - Public Access

(a) Court Locations

     (1) Office of the Chief Immigration Judge - The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which oversees the administration of the immigration courts nationwide, is located at the Executive Office for Immigration Review headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.  See Appendix A (Directory).

     (2) Hearing locations — There are more than 500 immigration judges in more than 60 immigration courts in the United States.  A list of immigration courts is available in Appendix A (Directory), as well as on the EOIR website.

Immigration judges sometimes hold hearings in alternate locations, such as designated detail cities where the caseload is significant but inadequate to warrant the establishment of a permanent immigration court.  Immigration judges also conduct hearings in Department of Homeland Security detention centers nationwide, as well as many federal, state, and local correctional facilities.  Documents pertaining to hearings held in these locations are filed at the appropriate administrative control court.  See Chapter 3.1(a)(1) (Administrative control courts). 

In addition, hearings before immigration judges are sometimes conducted by video conference or, under certain conditions, by telephone conference.  See Chapter 4.7 (Hearings by Video or Telephone Conference).  

With certain exceptions, hearings before immigration judges are open to the public.  See Chapter 4.9 (Public Access).  The public’s access to immigration hearings is discussed in Chapter 4.14 (Access to Court).  For additional information on the conduct of hearings, see Chapters 4.12 (Courtroom Decorum), 4.13 (Electronic Devices). 

(b) Library and Online Resources

     (1) Law Library and Immigration Research Center - The Office of Policy, CLAD, maintains a Law Library and Immigration Research Center (LLIRC) at 5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1800, Falls Church, Virginia 22041.  The LLIRC maintains select sources of immigration law, including Board decisions, federal statutes and regulations, federal case reporters, immigration law treatises, and various secondary sources.  The LLIRC serves the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), including the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge and the immigration courts, as well as the general public.  For hours of operation, directions, and collection information, contact the LLIRC at (703) 605-1103 or visit the EOIR website.  See Appendix A (Directory).

The LLIRC is not a lending library, and all printed materials must be reviewed on the premises.  LLIRC staff may assist patrons in locating materials but are not available for research assistance.  LLIRC staff do not provide legal advice or guidance regarding filing or procedures for matters before the immigration courts.  LLIRC staff may, however, provide guidance in locating published decisions of the Board. 

Limited self-service copying is available in the LLIRC.

      (2) Virtual Law Library - The LLIRC maintains a “Virtual Law Library,” accessible on the EOIR website.  The Virtual Law Library serves as a comprehensive repository of immigration-related law and information for use by the general public.

      (3) Immigration Court Online Resource - The Immigration Court Online Resource (ICOR) is a centralized location for resources and information about immigration proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).  The ICOR is available on EOIR’s website at https://icor.eoir.justice.gov/.

(c) Records

     (1) Inspection by parties - Parties to a proceeding, and their practitioners of record, may inspect the official records of proceedings.  A FOIA request is not required.  Inspection by prior arrangement with court staff is strongly recommended to ensure that the official record of proceedings is immediately available.  Individual immigration courts can be reached by using the following email model: "EOIR.xyz.ROP.Requests@usdoj.gov" where the “xyz” represents the relevant immigration court’s three-letter code.  See Appendix Q (Immigration Court Three Letter Codes).  Parties may review all portions of the record that are not prohibited (e.g., classified information, documents under a protective order).  EOIR prohibits the removal of official records by parties or other persons from EOIR-controlled space.

     (2) Inspection by non-parties - Persons or entities who are not a party to a proceeding must file a request for information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to inspect the Record of Proceedings.  See Chapter 12 (Requesting Records). 

     (3) Copies for parties - The immigration court will provide copies of the official record of proceedings to parties and their practitioners of record upon request.  A FOIA request is not required.  Parties may obtain a copy of all portions of the record that are not prohibited (e.g., classified information, documents under a protective order).  Requests for copies of the official record of proceedings may be made to the immigration courts in person, by mail, or via email.  See email address model in Chapter 1.5(c)(1) (Inspection by parties).  The immigration courts do not provide self-service copying.  Alternatively, the parties may file a request for information pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  See Chapter 12 (Requesting Records).

     (4) Audio recordings - Immigration judges previously recorded immigration court hearings on cassette tapes and now record immigration court hearings digitally.  The court will provide a copy of the hearing recording in digital format at the request of a party.

     (5) Copies for non-parties - Persons who are not a party to a proceeding must file a FOIA request with the EOIR Office of General Counsel if they wish to see or obtain copies of the record of proceeding.  See Chapter 12 (Requesting Records).

     (6) Confidentiality - The immigration courts take special precautions to ensure the confidentiality of cases involving noncitizens in exclusion proceedings, asylum applicants, battered noncitizen spouses and children, classified information, and information subject to a protective order.

     (7) Electronic records - For cases with electronic records of proceeding (eROPs), eligible parties may view and download the eROP through the EOIR Courts & Appeals System (ECAS).