Efficient Case and Docket Management in Immigration Proceedings

On September 8, 2023, the Department of Justice ("Department") published a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NPRM") proposing to rescind an enjoined December 2020 rule (the "AA96 Final Rule") that imposed novel limits on the authority of immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals ("BIA" or "Board") to efficiently dispose of cases. Because the AA96 Final Rule has been enjoined since shortly after its issuance, the proposed rule was designed to largely codify the currently operative status quo. After reviewing and considering the public comments received during the comment period, the Department is finalizing the proposed rule with the limited changes described in the preamble. The Department believes that this rule will promote the efficient and expeditious adjudication of cases, afford immigration judges and the Board flexibility to efficiently allocate their limited resources, and protect due process for parties before immigration judges and the Board.