Immigration Legal ServicesImmigration Legal Services

Asylum ResearchAsylum Research

Teresa MiguelTeresa Miguel

teresa.miguel@yale.eduteresa.miguel@yale.edu

Federal StatutesFederal Statutes

U.S. Constitution Article I, Sec. 8 gives Congress U.S. Constitution Article I, Sec. 8 gives Congress the authority the authority ““to establish a uniform rule of to establish a uniform rule of naturalizationnaturalization””

INA INA –– Immigration and Nationality Act (1952)Immigration and Nationality Act (1952)((Pub.LPub.L. 82. 82--414)414)

INA codified in Title 8 U.S.C.INA codified in Title 8 U.S.C.

INA AmendmentsINA Amendments

INS Act of 1965 (INS Act of 1965 (Pub.LPub.L. 89. 89--236)236)

IRCA IRCA –– Immigration Reform Control Act of Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 (1986 (Pub.LPub.L. 99. 99--603)603)

Immigration Act of 1990 (Immigration Act of 1990 (Pub.LPub.L. 101. 101--649)649)

IIRIRA IIRIRA –– Illegal Immigration Reform & Illegal Immigration Reform & Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 ((Pub.LPub.L. 104. 104--208)208)

INA AmendmentsINA Amendments

REAL ID Act of 2005 REAL ID Act of 2005 (H.R. 1268)(Pub.L. 109(H.R. 1268)(Pub.L. 109--13) (119 Stat. 231, 302) 13) (119 Stat. 231, 302) (8 U.S.C. (8 U.S.C. §§ 1158) (USSCAN)1158) (USSCAN)

Applies to new asylum applications filed on or after Applies to new asylum applications filed on or after May 11, 2005May 11, 2005

Burden of proof amendedBurden of proof amendedSufficiency of the evidence standard addedSufficiency of the evidence standard addedCredibility determination provisions addedCredibility determination provisions added

Copy of REAL ID Act on ILS Inside site and ILS Copy of REAL ID Act on ILS Inside site and ILS Research Resources web pageResearch Resources web page

Life of the REAL ID Act of 2005Life of the REAL ID Act of 2005

(Appropriations) Bill: H.R. 1268(Appropriations) Bill: H.R. 1268Public Law: Public Law: Pub.LPub.L. 109. 109--1313

Published in:Published in:USSCAN USSCAN (West)(West)

119 Stat. 231, 302 119 Stat. 231, 302 (official)(official)

8 U.S.C.A. 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1158 1158 (West)(West)

8 U.S.C.S. 8 U.S.C.S. §§ 1158 1158 (Lexis)(Lexis)

8 U.S.C. 8 U.S.C. §§ 1158 1158 (official)(official)

Regulations Regulations Federal RegisterFederal Register8 C.F.R. 8 C.F.R. §§ 208, 208, §§ 12081208

Executive BranchExecutive Branch Federal Departments Federal Departments

Administer the Immigration LawsAdminister the Immigration Laws

Department of Homeland SecurityDepartment of Homeland Security

Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice

Department of StateDepartment of State

Department of LaborDepartment of Labor

Department of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services

Dept. of Homeland SecurityDept. of Homeland Security

CIS CIS –– Citizenship & Immigration ServicesCitizenship & Immigration Services

Administers immigration benefitsAdministers immigration benefitsAdjudicates asylum claimsAdjudicates asylum claims

Reviews immigration visa petitionsReviews immigration visa petitionsProcesses applications for citizenshipProcesses applications for citizenship

PublicationsPublicationsAsylum Officers Training ManualAsylum Officers Training ManualAffirmative Asylum Procedures ManualAffirmative Asylum Procedures ManualAdjudicators Field ManualAdjudicators Field ManualCIS Interpretations CIS Interpretations –– interpret and clarify INAinterpret and clarify INA

Dept. of Homeland SecurityDept. of Homeland Security

ICE ICE –– Immigration & Customs EnforcementImmigration & Customs EnforcementPerforms immigrationPerforms immigration--related investigations and related investigations and enforcementenforcement

CBP CBP –– Customs & Border ProtectionCustoms & Border ProtectionGuards the bordersGuards the bordersMinor role in reviewing some visa applicantsMinor role in reviewing some visa applicants’’information and documentationinformation and documentation

Department of JusticeDepartment of Justice

EOIR EOIR –– Executive Office for Immigration ReviewExecutive Office for Immigration Review

Adjudicates many types of immigration casesAdjudicates many types of immigration casesImmigration CourtsImmigration CourtsBIA BIA –– Board of Immigration AppealsBoard of Immigration AppealsOffice of Chief Administrative Hearing OfficerOffice of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer

PublicationsPublicationsImmigration Court Practice ManualImmigration Court Practice ManualBIA Court Practice ManualBIA Court Practice Manual

Department of StateDepartment of State

Foreign AffairsForeign AffairsEmbassies and Consular officesEmbassies and Consular officesProcesses visas and U.S. passportsProcesses visas and U.S. passportsPublicationsPublications

FAM FAM –– Foreign Affairs ManualForeign Affairs ManualDOS policies and structureDOS policies and structureVol. 9 addresses VisasVol. 9 addresses Visas

Visa BulletinVisa BulletinIncludes numbers of visas grantedIncludes numbers of visas granted

Agency RegulationsAgency Regulations

Title 8 C.F.R. Aliens and NationalityTitle 8 C.F.R. Aliens and NationalityChapter I Chapter I –– Dept. of Homeland SecurityDept. of Homeland SecurityChapter V Chapter V –– Executive Office of Immigration Executive Office of Immigration Review, Dept. of JusticeReview, Dept. of Justice

Federal Register (Fed.Reg.)Federal Register (Fed.Reg.)Proposed and final immigration regulationsProposed and final immigration regulationsNotices of new immigration regulationsNotices of new immigration regulationsUnified agenda of federal agenciesUnified agenda of federal agencies

Conversion TableConversion Table fromfrom Title 8 U.S.C.A. (page 1)Title 8 U.S.C.A. (page 1)

fromfrom Title 8 C.F.R. Chapter I (page 3)Title 8 C.F.R. Chapter I (page 3)

INA INA §§(CFR numbering based on INA)(CFR numbering based on INA)

101101102102103103104104105105

201201202202203203204204205205206206207207

208 208 –– Asylum Asylum (both INA and CFR (both INA and CFR –– 208, 1208)208, 1208)

Title 8 U.S.C. Title 8 U.S.C. §§

1101 1101 11021102110311031104 1104 11051105

11511151115211521153115311541154115511551156115611571157

1158 1158 –– AsylumAsylum

-

Posted on ILS Inside

Structure of Title 8Structure of Title 8

U.S.C.U.S.C.Chapters 1 Chapters 1 –– 11 all repealed or 11 all repealed or transferred because of transferred because of AmendmentsAmendments

Chapter 12 Chapter 12 –– Immigration and Immigration and NationalityNationality

Subchapter I Subchapter I –– General General ProvisionsProvisionsSubchapter II Subchapter II –– ImmigrationImmigration

Part I Part I –– SelectionSelection

Chapter 13 Chapter 13 –– Immigration and Immigration and Naturalization ServiceNaturalization Service

Chapter 14 Chapter 14 –– Restricting Welfare Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Aliensand Public Benefits for Aliens

Chapter 15 Chapter 15 –– Enhanced Border Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry ReformSecurity and Visa Entry Reform

C.F.R. (as of Jan. 1, 2006)C.F.R. (as of Jan. 1, 2006)Chapter I Chapter I –– Dept. of Homeland Dept. of Homeland SecuritySecurity

Subchapter A Subchapter A –– General General ProvisionsProvisionsSubchapter B Subchapter B –– Immigration Immigration RegulationsRegulationsSubchapter C Subchapter C –– Nationality Nationality RegulationsRegulations

Chapter V Chapter V –– EOIR, Dept. of EOIR, Dept. of JusticeJustice

Subchapter A Subchapter A –– General General ProvisionsProvisionsSubchapter B Subchapter B –– Immigration Immigration RegulationsRegulationsSubchapter C Subchapter C –– Nationality Nationality RegulationsRegulations

Structure of Title 8Structure of Title 8

U.S.C.U.S.C. –– Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ––Immigration and NationalityImmigration and Nationality

Subchapter II Subchapter II ––ImmigrationImmigration

Part I Part I –– Selection SystemSelection System1158 1158 –– AsylumAsylum

(a) Authority to apply (a) Authority to apply for asylumfor asylum(b) Conditions for (b) Conditions for granting asylumgranting asylum(c) Asylum status(c) Asylum status(d) Asylum procedure(d) Asylum procedure

8 U.S.C. 8 U.S.C. §§ 11581158

C.F.R.C.F.R. –– Subchapter B Subchapter B ––Immigration RegulationsImmigration Regulations

Part 208 (Ch. I) /Part 208 (Ch. I) /Part 1208 (Ch. V): Part 1208 (Ch. V): Procedure for Procedure for Asylum and Withholding of Asylum and Withholding of RemovalRemoval

Subpart A Subpart A –– Asylum and Asylum and Withholding of RemovalWithholding of Removal

208.1 208.1 –– 208.31208.31208.13 208.13 –– Establishing asylum Establishing asylum eligibilityeligibility

Subpart B Subpart B –– Credible Fear of Credible Fear of PersecutionPersecution

8 C.F.R. 8 C.F.R. §§§§ 208.13, 1208.13208.13, 1208.13

How to Find Immigration CasesHow to Find Immigration Cases

Administrative DecisionsAdministrative DecisionsImmigration CourtsImmigration CourtsBoard of Immigration AppealsBoard of Immigration Appeals

Circuit Courts Circuit Courts

United States Supreme CourtUnited States Supreme Court

Administrative DecisionsAdministrative DecisionsPrint (both current through 2006)Print (both current through 2006)

Hein's Cumulative Index to Interim Precedent Decisions of Hein's Cumulative Index to Interim Precedent Decisions of the Board of Immigration Appeals the Board of Immigration Appeals --KF4812.7 .H45KF4812.7 .H45 –– L4 L4

Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws Laws –– I. & N. Dec. I. & N. Dec. KF4812.A2 U54KF4812.A2 U54 –– L4 L4

Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralCommissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization Board of Immigration AppealsBoard of Immigration Appeals

PatelPatel’’s Citations s Citations -- KF4812.5 .P38KF4812.5 .P38 –– L4L4

Administrative DecisionsAdministrative Decisions

Electronic (subscription)Electronic (subscription)Lexis & WestlawLexis & Westlaw

Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) -- 1940 to current1940 to currentOffice of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer Office of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) (DOJ) (OCAHO) (DOJ) -- 1988 to current 1988 to current Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA)Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) --1987 to current1987 to currentBIA and Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU BIA and Administrative Appeals Unit (AAU –– DOJ) DOJ) NonNon--precedent opinions precedent opinions –– 1985 1985 –– current current

Combined searchCombined search

Administrative DecisionsAdministrative Decisions

Electronic (open access)Electronic (open access)EOIR (DOJ) Virtual Law Library EOIR (DOJ) Virtual Law Library

When you have a citation When you have a citation –– not for searchingnot for searchingAG and BIA opinions AG and BIA opinions –– 1955 1955 –– current (current (pdfspdfs))OCAHO decisions OCAHO decisions –– 1988 1988 –– current (current (pdfspdfs))http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/vll/libindex.htmlhttp://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/vll/libindex.html

Link on ILS websiteLink on ILS website

ReportersReporters

Appeals from BIA and other agencies are heard in Appeals from BIA and other agencies are heard in Circuit CourtsCircuit Courts

F., F.2d, F.3dF., F.2d, F.3dFederal Appendix (unreported decisions)Federal Appendix (unreported decisions)

22ndnd Circuit Rule citing unpublished opinions Circuit Rule citing unpublished opinions (i.e. (i.e. ““Summary OrdersSummary Orders””))

FRAP 32.1 / LR .23 FRAP 32.1 / LR .23 Citation to Summary Orders filed after January 1, 2007, is permittedSummary Orders do not have precedential effect

ReportersReporters

Appeals from Circuit Courts go to USSCAppeals from Circuit Courts go to USSC3 USSC reporters3 USSC reporters

Official Official –– US Reports (U.S.)US Reports (U.S.)West West –– Supreme Court Reporter (Supreme Court Reporter (S.CtS.Ct.).)Lexis Lexis –– Lawyers Edition (Lawyers Edition (L.EdL.Ed.).)

DigestsDigests

Print DigestsPrint DigestsWord index or volumeWord index or volumeExamine the outlineExamine the outlineCheck the pocket partCheck the pocket part

Topic and Key Number (Westlaw)Topic and Key Number (Westlaw)Topic: Aliens, Immigration, and Citizenship (24)Topic: Aliens, Immigration, and Citizenship (24)

VII: Asylum, Refugees, and Withholding of Removal VII: Asylum, Refugees, and Withholding of Removal (k490 (k490 –– k649)k649)

533 533 –– Female Genital MutilationFemale Genital Mutilation24k533 (can add search terms)24k533 (can add search terms)Can find Can find ““most citedmost cited”” casescases

CitatorsCitators

ShepardShepard’’s (Lexis)s (Lexis)Cases that cite original caseCases that cite original caseStatutes referencedStatutes referencedLaw review articles citing caseLaw review articles citing case

KeyCite (Westlaw)KeyCite (Westlaw)Case treatmentCase treatment