Executive Office for Immigration Review – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (``DOJ,'' ``DHS,'' or, collectively, ``the Departments'') are adopting an interim final rule governing asylum claims in the context of aliens who are subject to, but contravene, a suspension or limitation on entry into the United States through the southern border with Mexico that is imposed by a presidential proclamation or other presidential order (``a proclamation'') under section 212(f) or 215(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (``INA''). Pursuant to statutory authority, the Departments are amending their respective existing regulations to provide that aliens subject to such a proclamation concerning the southern border, but who contravene such a proclamation by entering the United States after the effective date of such a proclamation, are ineligible for asylum. The interim rule, if applied to a proclamation suspending the entry of aliens who cross the southern border unlawfully, would bar such aliens from eligibility for asylum and thereby channel inadmissible aliens to ports of entry, where they would be processed in a controlled, orderly, and lawful manner. This rule would apply only prospectively to a proclamation issued after the effective date of this rule. It would not apply to a proclamation that specifically includes an exception for aliens applying for asylum, nor would it apply to aliens subject to a waiver or exception provided by the proclamation. DHS is amending its regulations to specify a screening process for aliens who are subject to this specific bar to asylum eligibility. DOJ is amending its regulations with respect to such aliens. The regulations would ensure that aliens in this category who establish a reasonable fear of persecution or torture could seek withholding of removal under the INA or protection from removal under regulations implementing U.S. obligations under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (``CAT'').

The Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review, is submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Department of Justice is amending the Executive Office for Immigration Review (``EOIR'') regulations governing the annual limitation on cancellation of removal and suspension of deportation decisions. The amendment eliminates certain procedures created in 1998 that were used to convert 8,000 conditional grants of suspension of deportation and cancellation of removal to outright grants before the end of fiscal year 1998. In addition, it authorizes immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals (``Board'') to issue final decisions denying applications, without restriction, regardless of whether the annual limitation has been reached.

This rule amends the regulations governing the requirements and procedures for authorizing representatives of non-profit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organizations to represent persons in proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The rule also amends the regulations concerning EOIR's disciplinary procedures.

The Department of Justice (Department) is proposing to amend the regulations of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) by establishing procedures for the filing and adjudication of motions to reopen removal, deportation, and exclusion proceedings based upon a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. This proposed rule is in response to Matter of Compean, Bangaly & J-E-C-, 25 I&N Dec. 1 (A.G. 2009), in which the Attorney General directed EOIR to develop such regulations. The Department also proposes to amend the EOIR regulations that provide that ineffective assistance of counsel may constitute extraordinary circumstances that may excuse the failure to file an asylum application within 1 year after the date of arrival in the United States.

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has published in the Federal Register a proposed rule amending the regulations governing the requirements and procedures for authorizing representatives of non-profit religious, charitable, social service, or similar organizations to represent persons in proceedings before EOIR and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The proposed rule also proposes amendments to the regulations concerning EOIR's disciplinary procedures. EOIR seeks public comment on issues affecting this proposed rule and will host three open public meetings to discuss it. The first meeting will be limited to a discussion of the recognition of organizations; the second meeting will address accreditation of representatives; and the third meeting will address oversight of recognized organizations and accredited representatives.

This final rule adopts, as amended, the proposed rule entitled ``List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers for Aliens in Immigration Proceedings.'' The final rule changes the name of the ``List of Free Legal Service Providers,'' maintained by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), to the ``List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers'' (List). It enhances the eligibility requirements for providers to be included on the List. It authorizes the Director of EOIR, or his or her designee, to place providers on the List and remove them from the List. The rule also allows the public to comment on eligible applicants and requires approved providers to certify their eligibility every 3 years.

The Department of Energy pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of DOE, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of DOE's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In this notice, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2015 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene.

As part of the requirements of Section 103 of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting public comment regarding effective methods, measures, and practices for the design and construction of separate building spaces (also known as tenant spaces) to create high-performance, energy efficient spaces. In preparation for completing a study required by the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, DOE is requesting information on the feasibility of significantly improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction, by owners and tenants, of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures; and encouraging owners and tenants to implement high-performance energy efficiency measures in separate spaces. The term `high-performance energy efficiency measure' means a technology, product, or practice that will result in substantial operational cost savings by reducing energy consumption and utility costs while maintaining indoor air quality, appropriate light levels and occupant comfort. DOE will use input from this Federal Register notice to inform the study, to be completed by April 30, 2016.

This rule proposes to amend 8 CFR parts 1003, 1240, and 1241 by changing the name of the ``List of Free Legal Services Providers'' to the ``List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers.'' The rule also would enhance the eligibility requirements for organizations, private attorneys, and referral services to be included on the List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers (List).

This rule amends the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) regulations relating to the organization of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ) to allow the Director of EOIR to designate or select, with the approval of the Attorney General, temporary immigration judges.

This final rule adopts without change an interim rule with request for comments published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2012. The interim rule amended regulations of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) at the Department of Justice (Department) by removing unnecessary provisions in its regulations that are the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This rule also transferred certain provisions to another CFR part. Finally, the interim rule made revisions to reference applicable DHS regulations and to make technical and clarifying amendments to regulations in that part.

This final rule adopts without substantive change the proposed rule with request for comments published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2011, and includes several non-substantive, technical corrections. The Department of Justice (Department) is amending its regulations to alter the process by which the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) forwards asylum applications for consideration by the Department of State (DOS), Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Currently, EOIR forwards to DOS all asylum applications that are submitted initially in removal proceedings before an immigration judge. The final rule amends the regulations to provide for sending asylum applications to DOS on a discretionary basis. For example, EOIR may forward an application in order to ascertain whether DOS has information relevant to the applicant's eligibility for asylum. This change increases the efficiency of DOS' review of asylum applications and is consistent with similar changes already made by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Department of Justice is amending its regulations governing the discipline of immigration practitioners as follows. First, the Department is removing unnecessary regulations and adding appropriate references to applicable regulations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Second, the Department is making technical amendments to the Executive Office for Immigration Review's (EOIR) practitioner disciplinary regulations and clarifying the Department of Justice's final rule on Professional Conduct for PractitionersRules and Procedures, and Representation and Appearances, which became effective on January 20, 2009.

This rule amends the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to adjust for inflation certain civil monetary penalties assessed under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The adjusted penalties are calculated according to a statutory formula, and will be effective for violations occurring on or after the effective date. This rule also amends the Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations to eliminate duplicative language and to substitute cross-references to the relevant regulations.

This final rule adopts without change an interim rule with request for comments published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2009. The interim rule amended regulations of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice, by deleting the unnecessary, duplicative provisions in part 1274a of chapter V in title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that are the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This rule also revised the remaining provisions in part 1274a to reference the applicable DHS regulations.

This document contains corrections to the interim final rule published in the Federal Register on October 28, 2009. The interim final rule implemented conforming amendments to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice regulations to comply with the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008. A review after publication identified one inadvertent omission and three errors in the interim final rule.