Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is responsible for the administrative adjudication and interpretation of the immigration laws, including provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. EOIR includes the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ), and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO). The BIA is a quasi-judicial body which hears appeals of decisions rendered by Immigration Judges and certain officers of the Department of Homeland Security. Records of proceedings (ROPs) are maintained at the BIA while cases are pending. Upon completion of the proceeding at the BIA, the ROPs are returned to the Immigration Courts. OCIJ oversees the work of the Immigration Courts, which maintain records of cases brought before them involving removal proceedings and related matters. OCAHO's administrative law judge hears cases related to the employer sanction, immigration-related anti-discrimination, and immigration related document fraud provisions of law. A copy of the official OCAHO case files may be obtained through the FOIA Requester Service Center. EOIR also maintains various administrative records. To facilitate access to court records, EOIR provides service--outside of the FOIA process--for respondents and their representatives of record to request a copy of their official record of proceeding (ROP). Requests for a copy of an ROP may be made to the immigration courts or the BIA in person, by mail, or by email. Please visit the  ROP request information page  for additional instructions or go to EOIR's  Immigration Court Online Resource  (ICOR). FOIA Reference Guide FOIA Regulations