EOIR PM 25-52

OOD PM 25-52 Effective: September 30, 2025 To: All of EOIR From: Roman Chaban, Acting Deputy Director Date: September 30, 2025 CANCELLATION OF OPERATING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MEMORANDUM 97-8 PURPOSE: Rescind and cancel Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum 97-8 OWNER: Office of the Director AUTHORITY: 8 C.F.R. § 1003.0(b) CANCELLATION: Operating Policies and Procedures Memorandum 97-8 As part of EOIR’s ongoing review of existing Operating Policies and Procedures Memoranda (OPPMs), OPPM 97-8, Naturalization Oath Ceremonies, issued by the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, is now rescinded. 1 OPPM 97-8 was issued more than 25 years ago, and several procedures and references contained therein are now outdated. Retaining such outdated guidance is also unnecessary to EOIR operations, as no Immigration Courts are currently performing naturalization ceremonies on a regular basis. To the extent that an Immigration Court (or an individual Immigration Judge, Appellate Immigration Judge, or Administrative Law Judge) may wish to conduct a naturalization ceremony in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), EOIR will address those situations on a case-by-case basis going forward.

All requests for such participation should be forwarded through the appropriate component head to the Office of the Director for review. In cooperation with DHS, EOIR encourages appropriate participation in naturalization ceremonies to the extent its operations allow. This PM is not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Nothing herein should be construed as mandating a particular outcome in any specific case.

Nothing in this PM limits an adjudicator’s independent judgment and discretion in adjudicating cases or an adjudicator’s authority under applicable law. Please contact your supervisor if you have any questions. 1 The cancellation of OPPM 97-8 has no effect on the continued applicability of any underlying law or regulation reflected in OPPM 97-8. 1