NILC and NILC Immigrant Justice Fund Statement on Appointment of David Neal as Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review

WASHINGTON — Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund, issued the following statement on the appointment of David Neal as director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review at the U.S. Department of Justice:

“After years of active sabotage and neglect under the previous administration, it is critical that the next director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) be someone who leads with integrity, believes in due process for immigrants, and shares a commitment to building a 21st century immigration system.

“David Neal, President Biden’s nominee to head EOIR, faces the difficult task not only of repairing the damage done in the past, but also of rebuilding trust with stakeholders who are justifiably concerned by the insufficient pace of change and the enactment of new barriers to justice — particularly the new accelerated docket for families seeking protection. Mr. Neal is a longtime, respected career public servant with deep knowledge of the office he’s been appointed to lead. We expect that he has learned from failed policies of the past and will work to create a more fair, more just immigration court system.

“At this important moment, we are committed to working with Mr. Neal and are hopeful that he and EOIR under his leadership will be partners in making the bold changes President Biden promised to enact.”

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