The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is implementing more temporary closures to immigration courts. The goal is to prevent the congregation of large groups of people and possible COVID-19 contagion.
EOIR made the announcement late Tuesday nightgiving little notice to people who had appointments.
Effective March 18, 2020, through at least April 10, 2020, the following immigration courts will be closed:
| Immigration Court Name | Operational Status | Name of immigration court to file emergency legal documents |
| Atlanta, GA - W. Peachtree Street | Closed | Atlanta - Ted Turner Drive (Detained) |
| Charlotte, NC | Closed | Atlanta - Ted Turner Drive (Detained) |
| 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 closure of the immigration court in Seattle, Washington. and the cancellation of master calendar hearings in all U.S. immigration courts for individuals who have been convicted of a crime and who have been convicted of a crime. not detained until April 10, 2020.
EOIR will accept emergency filings from individuals with cases in immigration courts that have closed. The table above indicates the immigration court where emergency legal documents must be filed.
Non-urgent documents that were required to be filed during the period of closure of the affected immigration courts must be filed no later than the first day the courts resume operations.
EOIR will reschedule immigration hearings for all affected cases and will inform immigrants, or their authorized legal representatives, in writing of new hearing dates.
CALL FOR ALL IMMIGRATION COURTS TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY
The National Association of Immigration Judges, the American Federation of Government Employees, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Local 151 Professional Union, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association, 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 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)have temporarily closed their offices to the public.
EOIR has said it will continue to assess the status of the COVID-19 pandemic on a daily basis and will make decisions for each immigration court as more information becomes available.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
Individuals with cases in immigration court must regularly monitor the EOIR website to learn about the operational status of the immigration courts in the United States.
They should also monitor the status of their immigration case by means of the online information system for immigration court cases or by calling 1-800-898-7180 (TDD 800-828-1120).
EOIR reported that case status and hearing date information cannot be updated for those cases postponed due to operational changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.. Upon issuance of a new immigration court hearing notice, such information will be updated.
EOIR's automated information systems do not replace the official written notices from the immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals delivered to immigrants or their authorized legal representatives. These documents remain the official documents related to an immigration case and must be complied with.
Please consult with a licensed and experienced immigration attorney for guidance on your immigration case in immigration court.
English 
Español