What does the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) do?

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) primarily functions as an appellate body within the immigration system. It reviews decisions made by immigration judges and handles appeals related to various immigration cases, such as removal proceedings and applications for relief from deportation. This role is critical because it ensures that there is a mechanism in place for reviewing and correcting errors made in initial hearings, thereby upholding the integrity of the immigration justice process.

The BIA does not conduct initial immigration hearings, which are the responsibilities of immigration judges. It does not issue visas; that responsibility lies with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Additionally, while the BIA deals with cases related to deportation, it does not manage the actual deportation processes themselves; rather, it reviews appeals concerning the outcomes of those processes. Understanding these distinctions highlights the specific and crucial appellate function of the BIA within the larger context of immigration enforcement and adjudication.