H.R. 6497 — Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act

This section states the sense of Congress that—(1) the purpose of temporary immigration judges is not to replace permanent immigration judges or to serve in lieu of appointing permanent immigration judges; and (2) due to the complex nature and high-stakes consequences of immigration case adjudications, immigration judges must have extensive knowledge and application of U.S. immigration laws.

This section authorizes the Attorney General to appoint temporary immigration judges for renewable terms not to exceed 6 months (up to 4 consecutive terms, or 2 years total, followed by a 3-year waiting period before reappointment). Eligible appointees include (1) former Board of Immigration Appeals members or appellate immigration judges; (2) former immigration judges; (3) current or retired administrative law judges from the Executive Office for Immigration Review; (4) administrative law judges from other federal agencies with at least 10 years of post-bar-admission experience in immigration law, subject to agency head consent; and (5) Department of Justice attorneys with at least 10 years of post-bar-admission experience in immigration law. Temporary immigration judges exercise the same authority as regular immigration judges to adjudicate cases and manage immigration court matters. The Attorney General, in collaboration with the Chief Immigration Judge and Regional Chief Immigration Judges, must establish procedures to assign caseloads, oversee performance, evaluate work product, and provide training (minimum 8 weeks initial and at least 1 day every 2 weeks ongoing), with exemptions from training for certain recent former immigration judges, appellate judges, or Board members whose temporary service begins within 2 years of prior service. (As background, immigration judges under INA §240 conduct proceedings to determine an alien's inadmissibility or deportability.)