Listed below are the most common departments and agencies that one would encounter in dealing with Immigration Law. A brief description and relevant links are provided.
Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) – located in Falls Church, VA, this is the appeals court for the 54 immigration courts in the United States. The BIA also hears various non-court appeals in cases involving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) – agency of DOJ which handles immigration court cases. There are currently 54 immigration courts that make up the EOIR. Local courts for Virginia/DC/Maryland residents are in Arlington, VA and Baltimore, MD.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (CIS) – a DHS agency which replaced INS in 2003; responsible for adjudicating immigrant visa petitions, naturalization and asylum applications, and processing other immigration benefits.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – as an agency under DHS, CBP is the largest law enforcement organization in the United States. CBP officers enforce immigration rules and regulations at airports, ports of entry, and border points throughout the United States.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – created in 2003 as the head department over CIS, CBP, and ICE.
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – legal enforcement branch for federal laws; head department over EOIR.
U.S. Department of State (DOS) – deals with travel information for U.S. citizens and foreign citizens; issues visas to foreign citizens and passports to U.S. citizens; monitors country conditions around the world. See also the list of U.S. Embassies and Consulates.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – created in 2003, ICE’s Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) is the enforcement branch of DHS which is responsible for detention of unauthorized aliens, bond determinations, and removal of unauthorized aliens.
U.S. Immigration and Nationality Service (INS) – the former name for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).
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