HOUSTON IMMIGRATION & NATURALIZATION ATTORNEYS


HOUSTON IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS DAILY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 22, 2010




Observing Immigration Court Hearings



On Febrary 19, 2010, the Executive office of Immigration Review (EOIR), which includes the 55 U.S. Administrative Immigration Courts, announcd procedures why some hearings are closed to the public. The EOIR conducts immigration court hearings in more than 55 immigration courts nationwide. These are generally proceedings to remove aliens from the United States, to hear applications to the EOIR, such as extreme hardship waivers, cancellation of removal, asylum, witholding of removal, and Convention Against Torture, as well as application for voluntary departure or adjustment of status applications.

Immigration court hearings are generally open to the public. However, in some circumstances, the hearing may be closed to the public when the court determines that (1) to protect witnesses, parties, or the public interest; (2) The immigration judge granted a motion the parties filed to close a hearing; or (3) the case involves an abused spouse or child, (2) nformation that is protected by a protective order; or (3)an application for asylum, withholding of removal relief, or Convention Against Torture (CAT) protections.

If you are interested in observing a hearing in the EOIR, please look up the closest immigration court near you at http://www.justice.gov/eoir. When visiting the immigration court, you are NOT permitted to bring any camera, or recording devices. Often times, there are limited spaces in the court. If so, the media has priority over the general public.






































































DISCLAIMER



The excerpts above are information taken from reliable immigration resources, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association's (AILA), USCIS', and U.S. Department of States' websites. LAW OFFICES OF STEVEN TUAN PHAM makes no warranty as to the accuracy and veracity of any such information. All interested parties must active;y do his or her own research and contact an experienced Houston Immigration Lawyer or an experienced U.S. Immigration Attorney to assist in specific questions and to resolve his or her immigration concern. You can contact one of our experienced Houston immigration attorneys and our U.S. immigration lawyers at 713-517-6645 for personal assistance. Alternatively, please complete our Contact Form and one of our U.S. immigration attorneys will contact you shortly.