Moción para rescindir o cierre administrativo: ¿cuál es la diferencia?

Angelica Rice • March 9, 2023

Click here to read this article in Portuguese and English

El sistema de tribunales de inmigración de los Estados Unidos actualmente está abrumado con cientos de miles de casos de inmigración que aún no se han adjudicado. En un esfuerzo por manejar este volumen de casos y eliminar algunos de sus casos atrasados, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Tribunal han flexibilizado sus políticas sobre la terminación y el cierre administrativo de ciertos tipos de casos que han considerado no ser casos prioritarios de ejecución. ¿Entonces, qué significa esto? ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre cerrar administrativamente un caso y terminar un caso? ¿Es esto algo que desea perseguir en su caso? Continúa leyendo para averiguarlo.

Cierre Administrativo

El cierre administrativo es una herramienta de gestión de expedientes judiciales que se utiliza para pausar temporalmente los procedimientos de deportación. Asunto de W-Y-U-, 27 I&N 17 de diciembre de 18 (BIA 2017). El “cierre administrativo” de un caso elimina temporalmente el caso del calendario activo del juez de inmigración y lo pone en espera hasta que el Departamento o el abogado del demandado haga una moción para “reprogramar” el caso. Para que se cierre la administración de su caso, el Departamento debe estar de acuerdo con el cierre administrativo.

Los jueces de inmigración pueden cerrar casos administrativamente por una variedad de razones, una de las más comunes es cuando se trata de un caso de baja prioridad o “sin prioridad de ejecución” y el Departamento no desea proseguir con la adjudicación del caso en este momento. Otra razón común para el cierre administrativo es cuando un Demandado tiene otro recurso pendiente con la USCIS, y la decisión sobre ese otro recurso afectaría el caso del Tribunal del Demandado. Por ejemplo, si un demandado tiene una petición I-130 actualmente pendiente con la USCIS pero también está en un proceso de inmigración, el juez puede acordar cerrar administrativamente el caso del demandado para esperar la decisión de USCIS sobre el I-130. Lo que significa que no se programarán audiencias futuras en el caso del Demandado hasta que el Departamento o el abogado del Demandado tomen medidas para volver a colocar el caso en el expediente activo del Tribunal. Si se aprueba el I-130, el demandado puede solicitar que se vuelva a programar su caso y solicitar que su caso judicial sea finalmente desestimado. Si bien su caso está cerrado administrativamente, en ciertas circunstancias, aún puede solicitar un permiso de trabajo.

Terminación de Procedimientos

Si considera que su caso no debería presentarse ante el Tribunal de Inmigración en absoluto, ya sea porque ya se le ha otorgado otra solución o porque no se le colocó correctamente en los procedimientos o por alguna otra razón, el Demandado o su Abogado pueden presentar una Moción solicitando que su caso sea desestimado.

La desestimación de los procedimientos significa que ya no tiene un caso con el Tribunal de Inmigración. Según las políticas actuales del DHS y del Tribunal, se alienta al Departamento a ejercer su discreción procesal y aceptar desestimar los casos que no son prioridades de ejecución; lo que significa que el demandado no es una amenaza para la seguridad nacional, no tiene antecedentes penales o ingresó a los Estados Unidos antes de noviembre de 2020. Sin embargo, si su caso judicial es desestimado y usted no es elegible para ningún otro remedio y/o no puede solicitar alivio con la USCIS, entonces no podrá obtener un permiso de trabajo y simplemente estará en los Estados Unidos sin estatus y sin beneficios de inmigración. Es por esta razón que a veces el Demandado opta por no solicitar la rescisión y desea seguir adelante con su caso en el Tribunal.

Determinar si alguna de estas opciones es adecuada para usted puede ser complicado. Debe consultar a uno de nuestros abogados de inmigración calificados para determinar si el cierre administrativo o la terminación son adecuados para usted y su caso.

Este blog no pretende ser una asesoría legal y nada aquí debe interpretarse como el establecimiento de una relación abogado-cliente. Programe una consulta con un abogado de inmigración antes de actuar sobre cualquier información que lea aquí.

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Angelica Rice

Motion to Terminate or Admin Close: What’s the Difference?

By Angelica Rice • August 11, 2022

The United States Immigration Court system is currently overwhelmed with hundreds of thousands of immigration cases that have yet to be adjudicated. In an effort to handle this volume of cases and clear out some of their backlogged cases, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Court, have relaxed their policies on terminating and administratively closing certain kinds of cases that they have deemed not to be enforcement priority cases. So, what does this mean? What is the difference between administratively closing a case or terminating a case? Is this something you want to pursue in your case? Keep reading to find out.

Can Undocumented Immigrants Obtain a Driver’s License in the U.S.?

By Angelica Rice • May 20, 2022

Many undocumented immigrants, or immigrants without status, wonder if they are able to get a United States driver’s license. Some states allow for this, while many states still do not, so whether or not you are able to get a driver's license without evidence of status depends on where you live. See below a brief guide to obtaining a non-immigrant driver’s license in the United States.

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2026 Visa Freeze and Travel Bans

By Juliana LaMendola • March 13, 2026

On January 14, 2026, the Trump administration announced a freeze on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries . The administration states that this “visa freeze” is intended to review security protocols, “reduce risks,” and control immigration flows. However, the immediate reality is that this change in policy has temporarily suspended visa processing and restricted travel for applicants from numerous countries across the globe. While the legal landscape surrounding these suspensions is highly fluid and subject to change, it is important to consider how this “visa freeze” might impact your current status or immigration plans. The scope of the restrictions varies drastically depending on your country of origin and specific visa category. Most notably, a nationality-based travel ban restricts visa issuance for 19 countries : Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Beyond this targeted ban, a broader freeze affects applicants from a designated list of up to 75 countries, leading to indefinite delays for many visa petitions. However, it is important to note that immigrant visa applications first need to be processed through USCIS, which has not paused processing applications from the 75 countries. Thus, it is important to contact an attorney to understand at what point in the process this visa freeze may affect your case. While Brazil is included in the list of 75 countries, at the time of this publication, the freeze does not include non-immigrant visas for Brazil . Non-immigrant visas are granted to foreign nationals seeking to enter the United States on a temporary basis for specific purposes, such as tourism, studying, or temporary work. This means that Brazilian applicants can still safely pursue non-immigrant employment options, such as O visas for individuals with extraordinary ability or P visas for internationally recognized athletes, without being subjected to the current travel bans or suspensions. This alert is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. There are many changes and uncertainties, so please consult with a qualified attorney at Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C. to understand how these evolving policies might affect your specific case

The 2026 RFE Surge

By Denice Flores • March 6, 2026

Recent data in 2026 shows a sharp increase in Requests for Evidence across employment-based visa categories such as EB-1, EB-2 NIW, O, and H-1B. Requests for Evidence (RFEs) are no longer reserved for borderline cases; even robust petitions for high-level talent are facing unprecedented scrutiny. The expansion of the USCIS Vetting Center means automated tools are cross-referencing every petition, triggering RFEs for even the smallest inconsistencies. For EB-2 NIW petitions, adjudicators are increasingly questioning the "National Importance" of a candidate’s endeavor. Even for those with impressive credentials, USCIS now demands evidence of how their work specifically benefits the U.S. on a prospective basis. For O-1A and O-1B visas, officers are applying narrower interpretations of "distinction" and "extraordinary ability," often mischaracterizing evidence already present in the record. Additionally, a troubling 2026 trend is the correlation between Premium Processing and RFEs . For discretionary categories like EB-1A and EB-2 NIW, Premium Processing has increasingly become a "fast track" to a poorly reasoned RFE. Reports indicate that adjudicators, pressured by 15-business-day timelines, may be relying on AI-assisted vetting tools that trigger automated RFEs with general and boilerplate language, rather than a thorough review and analysis of supporting documents and evidence filed. With USCIS employing more rigorous AI-driven vetting and a narrower interpretation of visa criteria, the margin for error has disappeared . As such, ensure you consult with an experienced immigration attorney before filing a petition. ' If you have any questions, please schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Navigating the Surge in Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Terminations and Litigation: What You Need to Know

By Juliana LaMendola • February 19, 2026

In recent weeks, the U.S. government has moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for multiple countries, sparking a wave of last-minute litigation and creating significant uncertainty for beneficiaries. This shift is having a profound impact on those who rely on TPS for lawful presence and work authorization in the United States. Across the country, federal courts have intervened to pause or block scheduled TPS terminations for several countries, including Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. In response to these court orders, USCIS has updated its webpages to indicate that TPS status and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are extended for these populations. However, USCIS is intentionally not providing specific new end dates for EAD validity while the litigation remains in flux. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has prominently noted that it "vehemently disagrees" with these court orders and is actively working with the Department of Justice on next steps. This legal landscape remains highly unpredictable and varies drastically depending on the country of origin. For example, on February 9, 2026, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay allowing the government to proceed with the termination of TPS for Nicaragua, Honduras, and Nepal while the underlying legal challenges continue. Because of this ruling, the automatic extension of work authorization for these individuals has ended, and employers are now required to reverify the work authorization of affected employees, who must present alternative valid documentation to continue their employment. These rapid changes and the lack of clear end dates are causing complications beyond the workplace. Because driver's licenses often track the length of an individual's authorized stay, many DMVs are currently declining to issue or renew driver's licenses for impacted TPS populations. For employers, managing internal communications, avoiding onboarding errors, and navigating Form I-9 compliance has become increasingly complex. It is more important than ever to be well-prepared and proactive in monitoring these rapid changes. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., our immigration attorneys are ready to guide you through this evolving process and ensure you are informed, and supported. Please contact us if you have questions or need assistance.