v0.1.0 to v0.1.1

---

name: eoir-removal-defense

description: >

---

# EOIR — Removal Defense (Respondent Filings)

> **NOT LEGAL ADVICE.** Drafting aids, scaffolds, and checklists only — not legal advice, and

> no attorney-client relationship is created. **Removal proceedings are high-stakes: an order of

> removal can mean permanent separation, multi-year or permanent bars to reentry, and loss of

> status — and many steps (especially concessions and missed deadlines) are hard or impossible

> to undo.** A licensed immigration attorney or an EOIR-accredited representative is **strongly

> advised** before you plead or file anything. Verify every form edition, deadline, and citation

> against current law.

This skill produces the respondent's substantive filings; **filing format, the caption/cover

page, service on DHS/ICE OPLA, exhibit tabbing, and ECAS vs. paper come from

`eoir-immigration-courts`.** Statutory text lives in the

[`../../references/immigration-statutes/`](../../references/immigration-statutes/) corpus — cite

by the **INA → 8 U.S.C.** crosswalk in its README (INA § 240 = 8 U.S.C. § 1229a, § 240A = § 1229b,

§ 240B = § 1229c, § 208 = § 1158, § 245 = § 1255, § 237 = § 1227, § 212 = § 1182), not from memory.

## Entering an appearance

- **A representative** enters with **Form EOIR-28** (the EOIR equivalent of a court appearance) —

attorneys and EOIR-accredited reps only (see `immigration-pro-se` for who may appear and the

notario-fraud warning).

- **A pro se respondent** files **no appearance form** — you are already a party. Format and

signature-block mechanics defer to `eoir-immigration-courts`.

## Pleading to the Notice to Appear (the master calendar hearing)

At the **master calendar hearing (MCH)** the respondent **pleads to the NTA (Form I-862)**. The

pleading has three moving parts, and the IJ takes them on the record under 8 CFR § 1240.10:

1. **The factual allegations** (numbered ¶¶ in the NTA — alienage, manner of entry, status, any

convictions). For **each** allegation: **admit** or **deny** (or "deny for lack of knowledge").

2. **The charge(s) of removability** — cited as grounds of **deportability under INA § 237 /

8 U.S.C. § 1227** (for someone admitted) or **inadmissibility under INA § 212 / 8 U.S.C.

§ 1182** (for an arriving alien or one not admitted). For each charge: **concede** or

**contest**.

3. **Designate the relief sought** and the **country of removal** (or decline to designate).

**Why concessions are high-stakes — flag this to the user.** Admitting the factual allegations

and **conceding the charge** establishes removability and **shifts the burden to the respondent**

to prove eligibility for relief in the exercise of discretion (8 CFR § 1240.8(d)). A concession is

generally **binding and hard to undo**. By contrast, if the respondent **contests** removability,

DHS must prove a deportability charge by **clear and convincing evidence** (8 CFR § 1240.8(a)); for

an applicant for admission, the respondent bears the burden of proving admissibility

(§ 1240.8(b)/(c)). **Do not concede reflexively** — the choice drives the whole case. The burden

framework is statutory at **INA § 240(c) / 8 U.S.C. § 1229a(c)**.

## The relief menu — designate, then route to the application

Relief is requested in proceedings; each form of relief has its own application and is handed off

to the skill that drafts it:

| Relief | Statute | Application form | Routes to |

|---|---|---|---|

| **Asylum / withholding / CAT** | INA § 208 / 8 U.S.C. § 1158 (asylum); withholding & CAT in proceedings | **Form I-589** | `eoir-removal-defense` (this skill) + the asylum reference at 8 CFR Part 1208 |

| **Cancellation of removal — LPR** | INA § 240A(a) / 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(a) | **Form EOIR-42A** | this skill |

| **Cancellation of removal — non-LPR** | INA § 240A(b) / 8 U.S.C. § 1229b(b) | **Form EOIR-42B** | this skill |

| **Adjustment of status** | INA § 245 / 8 U.S.C. § 1255 | **Form I-485** (filed in proceedings) | this skill; `uscis-benefit-requests` for the underlying petition |

| **Voluntary departure** | INA § 240B / 8 U.S.C. § 1229c | (oral/written request; pre- or post-conclusion) | this skill |

The relief-application **cover/index** scaffold below assembles the application, the supporting

exhibits (tabbed per `eoir-immigration-courts`), and the proof of service. Eligibility analysis is

NOT in scope — verify the substantive bars and thresholds against the statute and 8 CFR.

## Motions in proceedings

- **Motion to continue.** Filed on a **good-cause** showing (8 CFR § 1003.29; the

continuance/filing-extension limits at 8 CFR § 1240.10(h)). State the specific cause (e.g.,

retaining counsel, awaiting a pending USCIS petition, gathering evidence), the length sought, and

whether DHS opposes.

- **Motion to change venue.** Decided under the 8 CFR Part 1003 / § 1240.10 framework and the

ICPM; typically requires **pleading to the NTA**, stating a **fixed new address**, and a

good-cause showing (usually a move). Route format through `eoir-immigration-courts`.

- **Motion to administratively close or to terminate.** Administrative closure removes the case from

the active docket; **termination** ends proceedings (e.g., a defective NTA, or DHS lacks a

sustainable charge). Both are decided by the IJ under the Part 1003 framework.

- **Prehearing statement + the call-up deadline.** Before the **individual / merits hearing**, the

IJ (or the ICPM default) sets a **filing "call-up" deadline** for exhibits, witness lists, and a

prehearing statement. The deadline is firm — **late exhibits can be refused** (8 CFR § 1240.7(g)).

Run `immigration-deadlines` to fix the date.

**Motions to REOPEN or RECONSIDER are a separate skill** — route those to

`eoir-motions-to-reopen-reconsider`.

## Artifacts this skill drafts

- A **pleading scaffold** — allegation-by-allegation **admit/deny** plus **concede/contest** per

charge, with the burden-shift warning surfaced.

- A **motion-to-continue scaffold** (good-cause statement + length + DHS position).

- A **motion-to-change-venue scaffold** (plea to the NTA + fixed new address + good cause).

- A **relief-application cover/index** (application form + tabbed exhibits + proof of service).

## Related authority

- **8 CFR Part 1240** (removal proceedings — pleading § 1240.10, burdens § 1240.8, evidence/call-up

§ 1240.7, continuances § 1240.10(h)) —

[`../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1240-removal-eoir.md`](../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1240-removal-eoir.md).

- **8 CFR Part 1003** (EOIR/BIA/IJ proceedings — motions, continuances § 1003.29, venue) —

[`../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1003-eoir-bia.md`](../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1003-eoir-bia.md).

- **8 CFR Part 1208** (asylum before EOIR) —

[`../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1208-asylum-eoir.md`](../../references/immigration-regulations/8CFR-1208-asylum-eoir.md).

- Statutes: **§ 1229a** (removal + § 1229a(c) burden), **§ 1229b** (cancellation), **§ 1229c**

(voluntary departure), **§ 1158** (asylum), **§ 1255** (adjustment), **§ 1227** (deportability),

**§ 1182** (inadmissibility) — [`../../references/immigration-statutes/INA-II-immigration.md`](../../references/immigration-statutes/INA-II-immigration.md).

## Composition

Builds on `eoir-immigration-courts` (format, caption, service on OPLA, ECAS) for every filing's

mechanics. `immigration-deadlines` supplies the MCH, call-up, and motion clocks;

`immigration-fact-check` verifies citations. Reopen/reconsider go to

`eoir-motions-to-reopen-reconsider`; appeals of the IJ's decision go to `bia-appeals`. Where relief

depends on an underlying USCIS petition (adjustment) or a consular step, composes with

`uscis-benefit-requests` and `consular-visa-refusal`.