On January 9, 2006, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales issued Memoranda to the Federal Immigration Judges and also to the Board of Immigration Appeals. This was in reaction to several newspaper articles and decisions by Circuit Courts of Appeals criticizing the Department of Justice agency dealing with Immigration removal proceedings. Mr. Gonzales reminds the Judges that they are the face of American justice and should treat the aliens standing before them with courtesy and respect. Attorney Gerald Seipp, of this law office co-authored an article with Buffalo, New York attorney, Sophie Feal entitled “OVERWHELMED CIRCUIT COURTS LASHING OUT AT THE BIA AND SELECTED IMMIGRATION JUDGES: IS STREAMLINING TO BLAME?”, which was published as a lead article in the December 19, 2005 issue of Interpreter Releases. This article summarizes many of the Newspaper articles and Circuit Court decisions, and quotes some of the remarkable language by Circuit Court Judges castigating certain Immigration Judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Attorney General Gonzales has appointed a Commission to more thoroughly investigate this matter, and to issue recommendations for improvement.