US News
Immigration hearings rescheduled to unconventional locations with short notice
Immigrants in Maryland and Virginia face abrupt venue shifts, prompting due process concerns from attorneys.
The short version
- Immigrants with hearings originally set in Hyattsville, Baltimore, and Sterling have been relocated on short notice to non-courtroom sites in Washington, D.C., and Falls Church, Virginia.[NPR]
- Attorneys report that many unrepresented individuals receive little or no mailed notice of the changes, risking deportation orders for failing to appear.[NPR]
- The Executive Office for Immigration Review stated it is adjusting schedules and opening sites to handle cases timely, but did not clarify details regarding the specific locations.[NPR]
- Sources report the General Services Administration is working to acquire space across 18 potential sites by December, though formal lease announcements have not been made.[NPR]
Key facts
- Hearings scheduled for Hyattsville, Baltimore, and Sterling courts were moved to non-courtroom buildings in Washington, D.C., and Falls Church, Virginia, sometimes with little or no notice.[NPR]
- The Executive Office for Immigration Review stated it is opening new hearing locations and adjusting schedules to process cases in a timely and lawful manner.[NPR]
- An American Immigration Lawyers Association officer stated that requiring respondents to appear in person before remote judges without ten days of advance notice violates Justice Department regulations.[NPR]
- Mobile Pathways data shows that in-absentia deportation orders for unrepresented immigrants in Baltimore increased from 54% in January to 73% in June.[NPR]
What remains uncertain
- The Executive Office for Immigration Review did not answer questions explaining why respondents were directed to these specific locations or whether they are designated as official new immigration courts.[NPR]
- While sources describe a General Services Administration effort to acquire space across 18 locations by December, no formal leases or building conversions have been publicly announced.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.