ICPM ch. 1.3

(a) General – The Office of the Chief Immigration Judge (OCIJ) supervises and directs the activities of the immigration courts.   OCIJ operates under the supervision of the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). OCIJ develops operating policies for the immigration courts, oversees policy implementation, evaluates the performance of the immigration courts, and provides overall supervision of the Immigration Judges.

        (1) Chief Immigration Judge - The Chief Immigration Judge (CIJ) oversees the administration of the immigration courts and adjudication centers nationwide.

         (2) Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judges - The Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judges (RDCIJ) assist the CIJ in carrying out the responsibilities of that office and are responsible for daily supervision of the Assistant Chief Immigration Judges (ACIJ) within the RDCIJs’ assigned geographical regions.

         (3) Assistant Chief Immigration Judges - The ACIJs oversee the operations of specific immigration courts and adjudication centers.  A listing of the immigration courts and adjudication centers overseen by each ACIJ and assigned areas of responsibility is available on the EOIR website.

         (4) Legal Staff: Senior Counsels and Attorney Advisors/Judicial Law Clerks - OCIJ legal staff includes senior counsels and permanent and term attorney advisors and judicial law clerks at the immigration courts nationwide.  The legal staff supports the CIJ, RDCIJs, ACIJs, and Immigration Judges.

(b) Immigration Courts - EOIR employs Immigration Judges and professional staff in the immigration courts nationwide.  As a general matter, Immigration Judges determine removability and adjudicate applications for relief or protection from removal.  For the specific duties of Immigration Judges, see Chapter 1.4 (Jurisdiction and Authority).  Immigration Judge decisions are final unless timely appealed or certified to the Board of Immigration Appeals (Board).  See Chapter 5 (Appeals of Immigration Judge Decisions).

Court administrators are assigned to the local office of each immigration court.  Under the supervision of an ACIJ, the court administrator manages the daily activities of the immigration court and supervises staff interpreters, legal assistants, and clerical and technical employees.  In each immigration court, the court administrator serves as the liaison with the local office of the DHS, the private bar, and nonprofit organizations that represent aliens.