Immigration Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on the Executive Office for Immigration Review

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing on the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). This agency is part of the U.S. Department of Justice and is responsible for administering the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals. These two administrative tribunals decide cases involving the removal of aliens and the application of immigration and nationality laws. At the hearing, Juan Osuna, the Director of EOIR, will testify before the Subcommittee on the issues facing the agency, which includes the massive and growing backlog of immigration cases that results in unlawful immigrants being released into our communities for years, the lack of effort to address asylum fraud, the politicization of the agency, and improper hiring practices. Below are statements from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) on this hearing. Chairman Goodlatte: “The Executive Office for Immigration Review is tasked with fairly and expeditiously deciding immigration cases brought before it.  However, under Director Osuna’s leadership there is a disturbing trend of politicization at the agency. For example, judges who advocate on behalf of the Obama Administration’s lawless immigration policies go unpunished while those who faithfully administer the law are reprimanded. Additionally, the Committee has been informed that leadership at EOIR has instructed its immigration judges that they should not report suspected criminal violations by aliens when they become aware of them during removal hearings, such as asylum fraud, visa fraud, tax fraud, use of a false Social Security number, and identity theft. “On Thursday, we will discuss these and other issues, such as asylum fraud, with Director Osuna and get to the bottom of these problems at the agency.” Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy: “Director Osuna and the Executive Office for Immigration Review have a critical role in our immigration system to faithfully administer the law and decide cases in a timely manner. But there are serious concerns about the state of the agency, given the thousands upon thousands of backlogged cases and reports of politicization at the EOIR. We look forward to hearing from Director Osuna on Thursday.” This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at /. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.