Refugee and Asylum Law Research Guide: Case Law (U.S.)

U.S. cases from 1789

From 1984 to 2000

Contains selected court cases and administrative agency decisions between 1983 to 1989. In print, 12 volumes, (KF4815.F42)

from 1940

This comprehensive guide indexes case abstracts on political asylum as decided by the federal courts since the Refugee Act of 1980.

This publication contains summaries of federal decisions as well as administrative agency decisions from BIA, AAU, and BALCA. (1996+)

Includes administrative determinations on loss of nationality.

BALCA reviews denials of labor certification applications under the U.S. Department of Labor.

This is the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying immigration laws. It has jurisdiction to review decisions by immigrations judges (IJs) and to interpret immigration statutes and regulations. Decisions by the Board are binding unless modified or overruled by the Attorney General or a Federal court. Decisions of the Board are published as Interim Decisions (advance sheets) or bound Administrative Decisions. See below for print and electronic versions.

I.& N. Decisions from 1958.

Found under U.S. Federal Agency Documents, Decisions, and Appeals. 1940 to present.

This Office has jurisdiction over three types of cases: hiring of unauthorized aliens, immigration-related unfair employment practices, and immigration-related document fraud. OCAHO decisions are available under two separate areas, Published Decisions and Decisions covered by the FOIA.

Volumes 1 through 9 are available here.

from 1988 to 2007

OCAHO decisions published from 1988 to 1991.

Volumes 1+ (1988+)

Decisions from 1988.

This office has jurisdiction over numerous types of decisions listed under 8 CFR § 103.1 (f)(3)(iii).

from 1989 to present

From 1985 to present.

On occasion, the Office drafts legal opinions of the Attorney General for issuance to various agencies of the executive branch, and offices within the Department, including the INS