Senate Confirms the Appointment of Merrick Garland as Attorney General
Senate Democrats, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Senate today confirmed Merrick Garland as the Attorney General of the United States. President Biden nominated Garland, who had been Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
Click here for some analysis of opinions that may provide insight on the new Attorney General’s views on immigration. Garland, of course, will head the Department of Justice, which includes the Executive Office for Immigration Review (and thus the entire Board of Immigration Appeals and immigration court system, which some believe need a fair amount of attention). Attorney Generals Jeff Sessions and William Barr intervened in a number of BIA rulings, narrowing relief for removal (specifically asylum) and pushing immigration courts to close cases. As a former judge, Attorney General Garland might be expected to encourage the independence, impartiality, and professionalism of the corps of immigration judges.
KJ