Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
This is the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying immigration laws. It has jurisdiction to review decisions by immigration 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.
- DOJ Website - AG/BIA Precedent Decisions (1958-)
- HeinOnline - Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws (1940-)
- Found under U.S. Federal Agency Documents, Decisions, and Appeals
- HeinOnline - BIA Precedent Decisions
- LLMC Digital - Administrative Decisions Under Immigration and Nationality Laws (1940-2006)
- Westlaw - BIA decisions (1940-)
- LexisNexis - Immigration Precedent Decisions: BIA, AAO/AAU (1940-)
Office of Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO)
This Office has jurisdiction over three types of cases: hiring unauthorized aliens, immigration-related unfair employment practices, and immigration-related document fraud. OCAHO decisions are available in two separate areas: published decisions and decisions covered by the FOIA.
- DOJ Website - Submit a request for unpublished decisions using FOIA
- DOJ Website - Published decisions (1988-)
- HeinOnline - Administrative Decisions Under Employer Sanctions, Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices and Civil Penalty Document Fraud Law of the United States (1988-)
- Found under U.S. Federal Agency Documents, Decisions, and Appeals
- HathiTrust - Administrative Decisions Under Employer Sanctions, Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices and Civil Penalty Document Fraud Law of the United States (1988-1998)
- Westlaw - OCAHO Decisions (1988-)
- LexisNexis - Office of Chief Admin. Hearing Officer Immigration Review Decisions (1988-)
Administrative Appeals Office (AAO)
This office has jurisdiction over numerous types of decisions listed under 8 CFR ยง 103.1 (f)(3)(iii).
- USCIS Website - AAO Non-Precedent Decisions
- USCIS Website - AAO Adopted Decisions
- Click the drop-down to get the list of adopted decisions
- DOJ Website - AAO Precedent Decisions
- Westlaw - AAO Decisions (1989-)
- LexisNexis - Immigration Non-Precedent Decisions: BIA, AAO/AAU (1985-)
- LexisNexis - Immigration Precedent Decisions: BIA, AAO/AAU (1940-)
Office of Legal Counsel
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
