Urgent: 400,000 Immigration Cases Reopened in the US – What You Need to Know

Nearly 400,000 Immigration Cases to Be Recalendared in the US: What You Need to Know The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), the legal arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), recently announced plans to recalendar nearly 400,000 immigration cases previously administratively closed. This means thousands of individuals, whose cases were paused, may now face active removal proceedings. The recalendaring has already begun, and the deadline is set for July 9, 2025. "This is a nationwide reversal of Biden's policies," explains AK Poku Law, an immigration attorney featured in a recent video discussing the issue. "The memo states that administrative closure contributed to an immigration court backlog of over 4.1 million cases." This action follows an April 18, 2025 EOIR memo that canceled the 2021 guidance supporting administrative closure. The video highlights several key recommendations for those affected. First, individuals who have moved and not filed a change of address must do so immediately. Second, those whose former attorneys are unavailable need to secure new legal representation as soon as possible, given the 10-day (plus 3 days for mail service) response time to the motion to recalendar. Third, individuals should consult with an immigration attorney to determine if it's time to seek immigration relief. The situation underscores the importance of staying informed and proactive regarding immigration matters. The large number of cases affected and the potential for rapid changes in legal status emphasize the need for prompt action and legal counsel.