Federal Agencies, Agency Memos & Announcements

EOIR Issues Memo Providing Guidance on New Regulations Governing Procedures for Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and CAT Protection

12/11/20 AILA Doc. No. 20121400. Asylum, Removal & Relief

EOIR issued a memo (PM 21-09) establishing EOIR policy and procedures regarding new DHS and DOJ regulations, effective January 11, 2021, about credible fear and reasonable fear review screenings and the adjudication of asylum, statutory withholding of removal, and protection under CAT claims.

Per the memo:

The regulatory changes apply only prospectively—i.e., to all asylum applications (including applications for statutory withholding of removal and protection under the CAT regulations) filed on or after its effective date and, for purposes of the changes to the credible fear and related screening procedures and reasonable fear review procedures, to all aliens apprehended or otherwise encountered by DHS on or after the effective date. Nevertheless, although the rulemaking itself is not retroactive, nothing in the rule precludes adjudicators from applying existing authority codified by the rule to pending cases, independent of the prospective application of the rule. Accordingly, the statutory authority and case law incorporated into the rule, as reflected in both the NPRM and the final rule, would continue to apply if the rule itself does not go into effect as scheduled.

Editorial Note: On January 19, 2021, PM 21-09 was withdrawn and removed from the EOIR Policy Manual. It was officially rescinded and canceled on May 14, 2021.

Download this Document
Cite as AILA Doc. No. 20121400.

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