Executive Office for Immigration ReviewExecutive Office for Immigration ReviewEOIR_57c570e0-195f-4b4e-b76c-7cb4f8c1ac94Through teamwork and innovation, to be the world’s best administrative tribunals,guaranteeing fairness and due process for all._689ce445-e924-48ba-8c4b-1ffb388dc0f2To provide for the fair, expeditious, and uniform interpretation and application ofimmigration law._d0eec502-52cd-4351-ab02-48c2615b2946Equal Justice Under the LawEOIR must administer and interpret immigration laws and regulations efficiently and consistently to ensure fairness and due process for all. Agency staff will treat those who appear before its tribunals with respect, dignity, and compassion.Commitment to ExcellenceEOIR is committed to excellence, and seeks to provide the highest level of service to those who appear before its tribunals.Honesty and IntegrityEOIR adjudicators and staff are committed to upholding high standards of integrity and ethical behavior.TeamworkEOIR staff will work as members of a team to further the goals andobjectives of the agency. While EOIR values differences among individuals, and respects differing views among the components, EOIR is one agency moving in a unified direction. EOIR’s leaders recognize that its employees are its most important resource and are committed to providing opportunities for individual growth and development.Timely AdjudicationAdjudicate all cases in a timely manner while ensuring due process and fairtreatment for all parties._ead4612c-f521-4e7b-8325-37e375f0c10a1EOIR’s primary mission is to provide for the fair, expeditious, and uniform interpretationand application of immigration law. Hence, the agency has made timely and fair caseadjudication its first goal. EOIR’s Goal 1 mirrors the Department’s Strategic Objective 3.5(adjudicate all immigration cases promptly and impartially in accordance with due process).Because EOIR’s workload depends on the number of matters filed by the parties, the agency hasno control over the number of cases filed or their complexity. Nonetheless, EOIR must takeevery action to anticipate its future workload and to position itself to process all cases efficiently.Specified Time FramesAdjudicate cases within specified time frames._8d9b626f-9e1f-4b26-8e7f-08a0ca4828711.1In the Department of Justice Strategic Plan for FY 2007-2012, four EOIR adjudicationpriorities are identified, with specific processing time frames for each. Goals have beenestablished for each of EOIR’s adjudicative components. Additionally, EOIR has identifiedprocessing time frames for each type of case that it adjudicates. With the exception ofstatutorily-mandated deadlines, EOIR has determined that completing 90 percent of a particulartype of case within the established time frame is an acceptable long-term result.Through the quarterly analysis of component workload, OCIJ will monitor eachimmigration court to identify any that have not met the established time frames and take action(e.g., refined case management techniques, resource realignment, and/or technologyenhancements) as necessary and feasible to assist courts in meeting their case completion goals.BIA will sustain processes to ensure the Board’s success in meeting established time frames foradjudication of cases. OCAHO will monitor its caseload and take action as necessary to ensurethat case completion goals are met.Agency managers will analyze the agency’s reported goals on a periodic basis to ensurethat they are suitably ambitious. Any changes will be reflected in the Department’s keyindicators.Measure: Number of case types in which the time frame goals were met and percentchange from the last reporting period.Milestone: Annual reassessment of reported goals.Caseload ManagementImplement improved caseload management practices._50e8ce1a-02f1-48e4-b367-1185d8d1500b1.2EOIR’s caseload has changed significantly over the past few years. For several years, thecaseloads for OCIJ and BIA increased sharply, before beginning to stabilize. EOIR will considerthese changes in workload, establish better methods to project future workload, and adjustresources accordingly. Additionally, EOIR will refine its current caseload management practicesto ensure that cases move through the system as efficiently as possible.EOIR’s leadership will review current staffing and workload to determine if resources aredistributed appropriately and, based on this workforce analysis, redistribute resources asnecessary to maximize output of all components. EOIR staff will continue to work inconjunction with DHS to develop models to improve predictions of immigration court workloadso that EOIR can make appropriate budget requests. The volume, nature, and geographicconcentration of EOIR’s caseload is, to a great extent, tied directly to the initiatives undertakenby DHS. It is therefore critical that EOIR work closely with DHS to coordinate new budgetinitiatives and to ensure that resources are allocated to achieve optimal results.In addition, managers will continue to evaluate and implement various caseloadmanagement techniques. The courts will continue to systematically reduce the number of casespending longer than one year; the Board will ensure that all cases that meet the criteria for singleBoard member decision are decided in that manner; the Board also will ensure that three Boardmember panels are provided the necessary resources to adjudicate the cases meeting theappropriate criteria.Measure: Clearance ratio for OCIJ (cases completed divided by cases received).Measure: Clearance ratio for BIA (appeals completed divided by appeals received).Pro Bono RepresentationEncourage pro bono representation._d2e9e4ba-0a5c-4210-b860-fbcd55b00de51.3An area of interest within EOIR is the large number of unrepresented aliens inimmigration proceedings. Effective representation can enhance the adjudicative process. Toensure that unrepresented individuals understand the nature of the proceedings, as well as theirrights and responsibilities, immigration judges will continue to provide information to aliensregarding court processes.EOIR’s Pro Bono Program, established in FY 2000, represents an important step forwardin the agency’s efforts to expand and improve representation for aliens in proceedings. EOIRwill continue to assess the areas of need for enhanced private sector pro bono representationthroughout the country, with particular attention given to juveniles and detained aliens.EOIR staff will ensure that non-governmental organizations provide rights presentationsto assist detained individuals who will appear in immigration court. In addition, EOIR willincrease the use of video conference technology to allow counsel to appear by televideo, wherepracticable. The agency also will work with national, state, and local bar associations to bettereducate their members on the need and opportunity for pro bono service to aliens appearingbefore EOIR’s tribunals.Measure: Number of aliens served by LOP; percent change from last reporting period.Measure: Number of aliens served by BIA Pro Bono Project; percent change from lastreporting period.Professional ServicesDeliver services to the public in a professional, courteous, and timely manner._8a73fa1e-a70d-4e4d-9e1e-338e58d57a542The public sector is increasingly emphasizing the need to serve the customer. EOIR mustensure that excellent customer service is provided throughout the entire process. Timely,consistent, professional, and courteous treatment are customer service priorities that areimportant to all who appear before EOIR’s tribunals. Many persons who appear before EOIR’sadjudicators have little familiarity with the process; this is further compounded in some cases bytheir difficulty with the English language. In dealing with these challenges, EOIR will treat allpersons with respect, courtesy, and cultural sensitivity. EOIR is committed to providing highquality customer service regardless of whether the alien or practitioner contacts the agency byphone or Internet, seeks information in person at one of EOIR’s offices, or appears before one ofEOIR’s tribunals.Customer Service CultureCreate a culture of customer service as an integral, permanent component of EOIR programs._4d410a92-155f-458a-be08-8dbae92df8ef2.1Customer service is a high priority for EOIR. EOIR will continue to move towardcreating an organizational culture that supports customer service by providing employees withtraining and adequate resources to provide high quality service to its customers. The agencyneeds to recognize the diversity of the persons who appear before EOIR’s tribunals and takeactions as necessary to ensure that appropriate special needs are met.EOIR also will attempt to make the courts more accessible by expanding the use of videoand telephonic hearings in appropriate situations.Another important area of customer service concerns requests under the Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA). EOIR will process all FOIA requests with an emphasis on customerservice to the requesters and on teamwork with other agencies’ FOIA components. In addition,EOIR will strive to comply with statutory requirements and goals for timeliness andresponsiveness, including a reduction in the percentage of cases processed beyond the statutorilyrequired time periods.EOIR components will strive to provide outstanding customer service to internalcustomers by providing timely responses to statistical requests and information technologyissues.Measure: Number of backlogged FOIA requests and average length of time pending.Information and ServicesProvide information resources and services to appropriate individuals and entities._6b7fba38-2e2f-4ee6-ad1a-1d5c251f38722.2By providing timely, consistent, and accurate information to its customers, EOIR willreduce the frequency of redundant contact between EOIR and its customers. EOIR will continueto maintain the 1-800 number for individuals to check on the status of their next hearing, and theorganization will enhance that capability by providing an electronic avenue as well.EOIR will increase the amount of useful information on its web site, including the VirtualLaw Library. EOIR also will continue to provide user-friendly materials, such as the BIAPractice Manual and the OCIJ Practice Manual, to assist immigration law practitioners beforeEOIR’s tribunals. EOIR will add information to its web site, within federal privacy guidelines,when the agency determines that an issue has been raised a certain number of times through theFOIA process.EOIR also will enhance public awareness of and confidence in EOIR’s attorney disciplineprogram. It will do so through its notices on the EOIR Internet site, as well as internally throughthe Fraud and Abuse Program within the Office of General Counsel.Measure: Ensure that EOIR’s web site is continually updated and contains current pressreleases, policy guidance, and precedent decisions.Electronic FilingImplement electronic filing to achieve excellence in management,administration, and customer service._f20ff525-a417-4ed3-a837-619d0dedb3483In this era of rapid technological development, EOIR’s adjudicators and other staffincreasingly rely on a wide range of technologies to do their work. Integrating constantlyevolving technologies to enhance EOIR’s adjudicative and administrative functions will be anongoing challenge. To meet this challenge, EOIR is engaged in a multi-year, multi-phasedproject, termed eWorld, to make the transition from paper to electronic documents for its officialrecords. As eWorld implementation progresses, other government agencies, attorneys, parties toimmigration cases, and interested persons will be able, as authorized, to submit materialselectronically to EOIR’s adjudication components. Upon full implementation, most filings willbe processed in electronic form. EOIR adjudicators and staff will use the electronic records intheir work. Progress toward achievement of this goal will lead to success in EOIR’s primarymission-oriented goal of adjudicating cases in a timely and fair manner.Digital Audio RecordingImplement a Digital Audio Recording (DAR) system._aaa8fc87-31a6-4455-bffd-c39ea752c0493.1EOIR is moving toward implementation of a digital recording system to replace theantiquated analog recording equipment that historically had been used to create the officialtranscripts of immigration hearings. By substantially improving audio quality, digital recordingtechnology reduces inaccuracies and eliminates inaudible and indiscernible passages. It alsosolves the problem of missing or damaged tapes. This will save adjudication time, as it willeliminate the need for judges to repeat a hearing because too many portions of the tape areinaudible.When respondents file appeals with the Board, the recorded hearing will be electronicallysent to transcribers in lieu of physically delivering analog tapes by courier, thereby drasticallyreducing the time required to receive and transfer recordings for transcription as well as reducingvulnerabilities for lost or damaged recordings. In addition, EOIR oversight and managementstaff will be able to access recordings of hearings within minutes of the proceeding’s completion,providing new avenues for EOIR management to oversee and review immigration judges’conduct in the courtroom.Access to digital audio recordings directly by the DOJ Civil Division litigators, DHS, andalien attorneys/representatives will greatly enhance resolution of issues in cases in which tapesare not routinely transcribed, or in which issues regarding the sufficiency of the record haveemerged.Measure: Status update on DAR implementation. Immigration Review and Information Exchange SystemImplement the Immigration Review and Information Exchange System(IRIES) to facilitate collaboration within DOJ and with other government entities._61b781b3-15f9-4fad-9b06-3e538bd2aaa43.2The President’s Management Agenda encourages the use of information technology tofacilitate communications between agencies and with the public. IRIES will serve as the conduitthrough which EOIR will share data with its external business partners in the federal government.This project will enable EOIR to provide timely documents and information to law enforcementagencies.EOIR will work with DHS to exchange information more efficiently and effectively,striving to eliminate various manual processes and enhance the accuracy of information vital toboth agencies. EOIR and the Civil Division also will allow interaction between their systems forpurposes of federal immigration litigation. EOIR will eliminate, or at least greatly alleviate,issues of cross jurisdiction, court frustration, and timely and effective litigation strategies byallowing EOIR data to populate Civil databases through IRIES.Certified administrative records will be delivered electronically through IRIES,dramatically reducing shipping time frames and limiting occurrences of lost or damaged records,which will enhance the security of record delivery. By coordinating documentation andinformation exchanges between the various federal immigration litigation stakeholders, EOIRwill be able to minimize the current frustrations, inconsistencies, and susceptibility to abuse, suchas the recent examples of forged Board decisions and notices.Measure: Status update on IRIES implementation.Skilled WorkforceProvide for a workforce that is skilled, diverse, committed to excellence, and exhibits the highest standards of integrity._1b55f6d4-5e8c-42b4-9ff3-5c43e771ecc34The Department’s Strategic Plan states that DOJ’s “most important resource is itspeople.... The DOJ mission and our strategic goals could not be achieved without these loyal,skilled, and dedicated employees.” Similarly, the Government Accountability OfficeComptroller General has noted that “the key competitive difference in the 21st century will bepeople. It will not be process. It will not be technology. It will be people.” EOIR’s largestexpenditure each year is in the area of personnel services and benefits. EOIR must continue toview its employees as a resource to be managed carefully. EOIR’s managers need to viewtraining as an investment in the agency’s future.Integrity and AccountabilityFoster integrity and accountability to ensure public trust in EOIR’s caseadjudications and managerial practices._bbf2298e-395e-4777-aaca-61e2db19fc3e4.1In order to be effective and to engender public trust and confidence in EOIR’s decisions,employees need to be held accountable for their actions. The Attorney General’s review of EOIRin 2006 highlighted the importance of judicial temperament for agency adjudicators. EOIRmanagers will promote integrity, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the agency. It isimportant that those who appear before EOIR’s tribunals have trust in the agency and in the workthat it does.EOIR will maintain a robust Ethics program, providing training to employees andanswering questions promptly. EOIR’s Employee and Labor Relations program will provideoutstanding service and accurate advice to EOIR’s management officials regarding employeeconduct, grievances, and management/labor relations. In addition, EOIR will ensure an effectiveEqual Employment Opportunity (EEO) consultation, resolution, and complaint process.Measure: Finalize and implement a process for the intake, tracking, and resolution ofcomplaints against immigration judges and Board members.Human CapitalImprove the strategic management of human capital._4cc3edf6-2354-4710-b6d9-af89ebd2c13c4.2The most valuable asset that EOIR has is its employees. Workforce analysis andsuccession planning are extremely important to the agency to ensure that operations can continuedespite turnover in the staff. EOIR will implement plans to strengthen employee skills and toreplenish the workforce through strategic recruitment initiatives to recruit for the skill setsneeded for the future.In order to recruit and retain highly qualified individuals, EOIR will continue the policiesthat make the agency a desirable place to work. To that end, EOIR will emphasize being a“family friendly” workplace by providing a wide range of work life options for its employees,where feasible, recognizing that different operational units within the agency have differentstaffing needs. The agency also will promote initiatives that support employees in balancing thedemands of their professional and personal lives.EOIR will continue to support efforts to promote diversity, ensuring that its managementand staff reflect the diverse ethnic and racial cultures that make this nation great. To that end,EOIR will strive to make opportunities available to the fullest extent for women, minorities, andpersons with disabilities.Milestone: Creation of staffing plans for each office that take into account new skillsneeded to achieve EOIR’s mission in the future.2007-10-012013-09-302010-02-08http://www.usdoj.gov/eoir/statspub/EOIR%20Strategic%20Plan%202008-2013%20Final.pdfArthurColman (www.drybridge.com)colman@drybridge.com