days, holidays and whatever days. The judge is probably left with 200 working days. This means that an Immigration Judge must conclude 3.5 Removal cases in every working day.
This is doable, if you simply deport everybody (and make Trump happy). But not if you listen to defenses, examine witnesses, review documents, check precedents, write reasoned decisions, and properly apply the law (and actually be a JUDGE).
Now came the Biden Administration and cancelled these artificial quotas.
Hallelujah to Biden.
90 DAY RULE – GONE
The Trump Administration, in its effort to find reasons and excuses to deny all types of applications, issued a rule that various actions done by a VISITOR within 90 days of arrival in the U.S. are always proof of MISREPRESENTATION at the entry and lead AUTOMATICALLY to denial.
For example: if a visitor enrolls in school, or gets a marriage license, or fills out a job application, etc., etc., within 90 days of arrival – this proves that the visitor, at the port of entry MISREPRESENTED the purpose of the visit (because they truly intended to stay in the U.S. and not just VISIT). And this is a ground for AUTOMATIC DENIAL.
Now came the Biden Administration and cancelled the 90 days rule. Visitors’ conduct after entry may still be proof of misrepresentation of INTENT at time of entry, but explanations will be accepted. Credible proof of CHANGE OF MIND could justify those “sudden” actions, even if done within less than 90 days.
Hallelujah to Biden.
CONSULAR DELAYS
The delays and long waiting times at American Consulates around the world, even for people with approved petitions, are intolerable.
The Trump Administration “starved” the Department of State’s man-and woman-power. Also, the lockdowns of the COVID-19 were a problem. The current backlog of approved petitions is more than 500,000 (half a million).
AILA, the organization of American Immigration Lawyers, recently urged the Department of State to hire five hundred (500) additional consular officers to staff the various consulates. This is what is necessary to “digest” the mountain of backlogged cases.