Source: http://www.uscis.gov/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-11261/0-0-0-33286/0-0-0-33359.html
Timestamp: 2013-06-20 04:31:52
Document Index: 197523509

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1003', 'ART 1003', '§ 1003', '§ 1003', 'art 240', 'art 1240', 'art 1240', 'art 240', 'art 280', 'arts 204', 'arts 1204', 'art 1212', 'art 1236', 'art 1246', 'art 1244', '§ 1003', '§ 1245', '§ 1245', '§ 1241', '§ 1003', '§ 1292', '§ 1003', '§ 1292', '§ 1001', '§ 1003']

§ 1003.1 Organization, jurisdiction, and powers of the Board of Immigration Appeals. (Section heading revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878)
\ slb \ SERVICE LAW BOOKS MENU \ TITLE 8 OF CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (8 CFR) \ 8 CFR PART 1003 -- EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW \ § 1003.1 Organization, jurisdiction, and powers of the Board of Immigration Appeals. (Section heading revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878)
§ 1003.1 Organization, jurisdiction, and powers of the Board of Immigration Appeals. (Section heading revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
. There shall be in the Department of Justice a Board of Immigration Appeals, subject to the general supervision of the Director, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The Board members shall be attorneys appointed by the Attorney General to act as the Attorney General's delegates in the cases that come before them. The Board shall consist of 15 members. A vacancy, or the absence or unavailability of a Board member, shall not impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all the powers of the Board.(Revised 12/7/06; 71 FR 70855
) (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Amended 11/14/01; 66 FR 56967
) (Amended 9/12/01; 66 FR 47379
) (Amended 4/14/00; 65 FR 20068
)(Amended 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
) (Revised 9/15/94; 59 FR 47231
) (Revised 6/5/95; 60 FR 29469
) (Amended 11/15/95; 60 FR 57313
) (Amended 11/22/96; 61 FR 59305
) (Revised 6/11/98; 63 FR 31889
. The Attorney General shall designate one of the Board members to serve as Chairman. The Attorney General may designate one or two Vice Chairmen to assist the Chairman in the performance of his duties and to exercise all of the powers and duties of the Chairman in the absence or unavailability of the Chairman. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
)(Amended 11/15/95; 60 FR 57313
. The Chairman shall divide the Board into three-member panels and designate a presiding member of each panel if the Chairman or Vice Chairman is not assigned to the panel. The Chairman may from time to time make changes in the composition of such panels and of presiding members. Each three-member panel shall be empowered to decide cases by majority vote, and a majority of the Board members assigned to the panel shall constitute a quorum for such panel. In addition, the Chairman shall assign any number of B
oard members, as needed, to serve on the screening panel to implement the case management process as provided in paragraph (e) of this section. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(4) Temporary Board members
. The Director may in his discretion designate immigration judges, retired Board members, retired immigration judges, and administrative law judges employed within, or retired from, EOIR to act as temporary Board members for terms not to exceed six months. In addition, with the approval of the Deputy Attorney General, the Director may designate one or more senior EOIR attorneys with at least ten years of experience in the field of immigration law to act as temporary Board members for terms not to exceed six
months. A temporary Board member shall have the authority of a Board member to adjudicate assigned cases, except that temporary Board members shall not have the authority to vote on any matter decided by the Board en banc. (Revised 12/7/06; 71 FR 70855
)(Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
)(Added 6/11/98; 63 FR 31889
(5) En banc process
. A majority of the permanent Board members shall constitute a quorum for purposes of convening the Board en banc. The Board may on its own motion by a majority vote of the permanent Board members, or by direction of the Chairman, consider any case en banc, or reconsider as the Board en banc any case that has been considered or decided by a three-member panel. En banc proceedings are not favored, and shall ordinarily be ordered only where necessary to address an issue of particular importance or to secure o
r maintain consistency of the Board's decisions. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(6) Board staff
. There shall also be attached to the Board such number of attorneys and other employees as the Deputy Attorney General, upon recommendation of the Director, shall from time to time direct. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Added 6/11/98; 63 FR 31889
(7) Affirmance without opinion
. (i) The Chairman may designate, from time-to-time, permanent Board Members who are authorized, acting alone, to affirm decisions of Immigration Judges and the Service without opinion. The Chairman may designate certain categories of cases as suitable for review pursuant to this paragraph. (Paragraph (a)(7) added 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(ii) The single Board Member to whom a case is assigned may affirm the decision of the Service or the Immigration Judge, without opinion, if the Board Member determines that the result reached in the decision under review was correct; that any errors in the decision under review were harmless or nonmaterial; and that
(iii) If the Board Member determines that the decision should be affirmed without opinion, the Board shall issue an order that reads as follows: "The Board affirms, without opinion, the result of the decision below. The decision below is, therefore, the final agency determination. See 8 CFR 3.1(a)(7)." An order affirming without opinion, issued under authority of this provision, shall not include further explanation or reasoning. Such an order approves the result reached in the decision below; it does not necessarily imply approval of all of the reasoning of that decision, but does signify the Board's conclusion that any errors in the decision of the Immigration Judge or the Service were harmless or nonmaterial.
(iv) If the Board Member determines that the decision is not appropriate for affirmance without opinion, the case will be assigned to a three-Member panel for review and decision. The panel to which the case is assigned also has the authority to determine that a case should be affirmed without opinion.
. Appeals may be filed with the Board of Immigration Appeals from the following: (Introductory text revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(1) Decisions of Immigration Judges in exclusion cases, as provided in 8 CFR part 240, Subpart D. (Revised 4/29/96; 61 FR 18900
(2) Decisions of Immigration Judges in deportation cases, as provided in 8 CFR part 1240, Subpart E, except that no appeal shall lie seeking review of a length of a period of voluntary departure granted by an Immigration Judge under section 244E of the Act as it existed prior to April 1, 1997. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(3) Decisions of Immigration Judges in removal proceedings, as provided in 8 CFR part 1240
, except that no appeal shall lie seeking review of the length of a period of voluntary departure granted by an immigration judge under section 240B
of the Act or part 240 of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(4) Decisions involving administrative fines and penalties, including mitigation thereof, as provided in Part 280
of this chapter. (5) Decisions on petitions filed in accordance with section 204 of the act (except petitions to accord preference classifications under section 203(a)(3)
or section 203(a)(6) of the act, or a petition on behalf of a child described in section 101(b)(1)(F)
of the act), and decisions on requests for revalidation and decisions revoking the approval of such petitions, in accordance with section 205
of the act, as provided in Parts 204
, respectively, of 8 CFR chapter I or parts 1204 and 1205, respectively of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(6) Decisions on applications for the exercise of the discretionary authority contained in section 212(d)(3) of the act as provided in Part 1212 of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(7) Determinations relating to bond, parole, or detention of an alien as provided in 8 CFR part 1236, Subpart A. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(8) Decisions of Immigration Judges in rescission of adjustment of status cases, as provided in Part 1246 of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(9) Decisions of Immigration Judges in asylum proceedings pursuant to 1208.2(b) of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(10) Decisions of Immigration Judges relating to Temporary Protected Status as provided in 8 CFR part 1244. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
(11) Decisions on applications from organizations or attorneys requesting to be included on a list of free legal services providers and decisions on removals therefrom pursuant to § 1003.65
. (Added effective 3/31/97; 62 FR 9071
(12) Decisions of Immigration Judges on applications for adjustment of status referred on a Notice of Certification (Form I-290C) to the Immigration Court in accordance with §§ 1245.13(n)(2) and 1245.15(n)(3) of this chapter or remanded to the Immigration Court in accordance with §§ 1245.13(d)(2) and 1245.15(e)(2) of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
) (Added effective 6/22/98; 63 FR 27823
) (Revised effective 6/11/99; 64 FR 25756
(13) Decisions of adjudicating officials in practitioner disciplinary proceedings as provided in subpart G of this part. (Added effective 7/27/00; 65 FR 39513
(14) Decisions of immigration judges regarding custody of aliens subject to a final order of removal made pursuant to § 1241.14 of this chapter. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
) (Added 11/14/01; 66 FR 56967
(c) Jurisdiction by certification
. The Commissioner, or any other duly authorized officer of the Service, any Immigration Judge, or the Board may in any case arising under paragraph (b) of this section certify such case to the Board. The Board in its discretion may review any such case by certification without regard to the provisions of § 1003.7
if it determines that the parties have already been given a fair opportunity to make representations before the Board regarding the case, including the opportunity request oral argument and to submit a brief. (Revised 4/29/96; 61 FR 18900
(d) Powers of the Board
. The Board shall function as an appellate body charged with the review of those administrative adjudications under the Act that the Attorney General may by regulation assign to it. The Board shall resolve the questions before it in a manner that is timely, impartial, and consistent with the Act and regulations. In addition, the Board, through precedent decisions, shall provide clear and uniform guidance to the Service, the immigration judges, and the general public on the proper interpretation and administ
ration of the Act and its implementing regulations. (Paragraph (d)(1) revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(2) Summary dismissal of appeals
. (i) Standards
. A single Board member or panel may summarily dismiss any appeal or portion of any appeal in any case in which: (Introductory text revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
)(Redesignated as paragraph (d)(2), previously (d-1a); 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(D) The Board is satisfied, from a review of the record, that the appeal is filed for an improper purpose, such as to cause unnecessary delay, or that the appeal lacks an arguable basis in fact or in law unless the Board determines that it is supported by a good faith argument for extension, modification, or reversal of existing law; (Added effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(E) The party concerned indicates on Form EOIR-26 or Form-29 that he or she will file a brief or statement in support of the appeal and, thereafter, does not file such brief or statement, or reasonably explain his or her failure to do so, within the time set for filing; (Redesignated as (d)(2)(i)(E), previously (d)(2)(i)(D) effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Amended and redesignated as paragraph (d)(2)(i)(D), previously (d)(2)(i)(E), 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(F) The appeal does not fall within the Board's jurisdiction, or lies with the Immigration Judge rather than the Board; (Redesignated as (d)(2)(i)(F), previously (d)(2)(i)(E) effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Added 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(G) The appeal is untimely, or barred by an affirmative waiver of the right of appeal that is clear on the record; or (Redesignated as (d)(2)(i)(G), previously (d)(2)(i)(F) effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(H) The appeal fails to meet essential statutory or regulatory requirements or is expressly excluded by statute or regulation. (Redesignated as (d)(2)(i)(H), previously (d)(2)(i)(G) effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Redesignated as paragraph (d)(2)(i)(G), previously (d)(2)(i)(F), 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(ii) Action by the Board
. The Board's case management screening plan shall promptly identify cases that are subject to summary dismissal pursuant to this paragraph. An order dismissing any appeal pursuant to this paragraph (d)(2) shall constitute the final decision of the Board. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
(iii) Disciplinary consequences
. The filing by an attorney or representative accredited under § 1292.2(d) of this chapter of an appeal that is summarily dismissed under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section may constitute frivolous behavior under § 1003.102(j). Summary dismissal of an appeal under paragraph (d)(2)(i) of this section does not limit the other grounds and procedures for disciplinary action against attorneys or representatives. (Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
) (Redesignated as paragraph (d)(2)(iii), previously (d)(2)(ii); 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
) (Amended 1/22/01; 66 FR 6436
. (i) The Board will not engage in de novo review of findings of fact determined by an immigration judge. Facts determined by the immigration judge, including findings as to the credibility of testimony, shall be reviewed only to determine whether the findings of the immigration judge are clearly erroneous. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Redesignated as paragraph (d)(3), previously (d)(2); 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(4) Rules of practice
. The Board shall have authority, with the approval of the Director, EOIR, to prescribe procedures governing proceedings before it. (Revised effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
) (Redesignated as paragraph (d)(4), previously (d)(3); 10/18/99; 64 FR 56135
(5) Discipline of attorneys and representatives
. The Board shall determine whether any organization or individual desiring to represent aliens in immigration proceedings meets the requirements as set forth in § 1292.2
of this chapter. It shall also determine whether any organization desiring representation is of a kind described in § 1001.1(i)
of this chapter, and shall regulate the conduct of attorneys, representatives of organizations, and others who appear in a representative capacity before the Board or the Service or any immigration judge. (Amended effective 1/20/09; 73 FR 76914
)(Amended 3/5/03; 68 FR 10349
) (Added effective 9/25/02; 67 FR 54878
. (i) The Board shall not issue a decision affirming or granting to an alien an immigration status, relief or protection from removal, or other immigration benefit, as provided in 8 CFR 1003.47(b)
, that requires completion of identity, law enforcement, or security investigations or examinations if: (Paragraph (d)(6) added effective 4/1/05; 70 FR 4743
(A) The Board may issue an order remanding the case to the immigration judge with instructions to allow DHS to complete or update the appropriate identity, law enforcement, or security investigations or examinations pursuant to § 1003.47
(iii) In any case placed on hold under paragraph (d)(6)(ii)(B) of this section, DHS shall report to the Board promptly when the identity, law enforcement, or security investigations or examinations have been completed or updated. If DHS obtains relevant information as a result of the identity, law enforcement, or security investigations or examinations, or if the applicant fails to comply with necessary procedures for collecting biometrics or other biographical information, DHS may move to remand the record
to the immigration judge for consideration of whether, in view of the new information or the alien's failure to comply, the immigration relief should be denied, either on grounds of eligibility or, where applicable, as a matter of discretion.
(v) The immigration relief described in 8 CFR 1003.47(b)
and granted by the Board shall take effect as provided in 8 CFR 1003.47(i)
(7) Finality of decision
. The decision of the Board shall be final except in those cases reviewed by the Attorney General in accordance with paragraph (h) of this section. The Board may return a case to the Service or an immigration judge for such further action as may be appropriate, without entering a final decision on the merits of the case. (Redesignated as paragraph (d)(7), previously paragraph (d)(6) effective 4/1/05; 70 FR 4743