Concerned about the Trump administration’s remarks targeting asylum seekers and a potential increase in asylum terminations, on Oct. 3, 2019, CLINIC submitted a Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, request to USCIS seeking information about the numbers of Notices of Intent to Terminate asylum status issued by each asylum office, how many asylum grants were terminated and how many left in place, and the grounds for the asylum offices issuing the Notices.

The Department of Justice Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR, Recognition and Accreditation Program provides federally tax-exempt non-profit entities in the United States permission to practice immigration law through non-attorneys.

An immigration judge may issue an in absentia removal order if the Department of Homeland Security establishes by clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence that the respondent had written notice of the hearing and is removable as charged on the Notice to Appear. There are many reasons why a respondent may fail to appear at a removal hearing, including lack of notice of the hearing, sickness, a breakdown in transportation, limited or no English knowledge, or because the respondent is a child without the help of a responsible adult who can assist them in getting to the hearing.