EOIR Country Conditions Site

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the new Country Pages section of the Virtual Law Library, the agency’s online legal research resource. The new section is an extensive collection of information about the conditions in countries around the world. This unique educational resource, containing publicly-available documents that report on multiple aspects of country conditions, could be relevant to respondents in proceedings before the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The release of these pages is a new effort to provide the public with access to one website that hosts detailed information from many sources.

“EOIR is constantly evaluating its programs to improve the way we serve the public,” said EOIR Director Juan P. Osuna. “The release of country conditions information will allow the public ease of access to more specific and complete information to aid parties in preparing their cases before EOIR’s tribunals. I am so pleased to be able to offer this tremendous resource to the public.”

EOIR’s new section hosts information on 54 countries, including documents addressing areas such as political parties, human rights, religion, sexual orientation and trafficking, as well as maps, citizenship documents, and relevant laws. Information is culled from reports from multiple sources, including the U.S. Government, the United Nations, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and media outlets.

The Country Pages are compiled and updated by the EOIR Law Library and Immigration Research Center (LLIRC). All content is compiled from publicly available documents that report on aspects of country conditions that have relevance in removal hearings before Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The included documents are intended for use in applications for relief arising in removal proceedings; the information contained herein should not be construed as necessarily implying recognition of a particular territory’s sovereignty or political status.

The country pages are not, and do not purport to be, exhaustive with regard to conditions in a particular country, or conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for asylum or other relief. Inclusion of materials should not be construed as an endorsement of their contents. Parties may offer, and adjudicators may consider, additional information not included in the country pages.

The LLIRC seeks to provide an accurate, up to date, balanced and impartial compilation of relevant materials on its Country Pages.