Thread by @YaelSchacher

Short thread: When I started doing historical research on immigration, I was SHOCKED that only a small number of precedent BIA decisions are available to the public in volumes published since 1940. This decisions orders release of non-precedent decisions back to 1996.

https://twitter.com/ReichlinMelnick/status/1357740770497855490

There is no library open to public where a scholar like me can go find BIA unpublished decisions from the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s, for example, which would really help to understand the history of the evolution of immigration law (beyond merely legislative history).

Further, unpublished BIA decisions have not been deemed important enough for the National Archives to keep permanently. Ones from 50 years ago have likely already been destroyed. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS.

This Records Schedule makes me furious and I would love help from anyone who will help me pressure NARA to revisit it and ensure that copies of these decisions are permanently deposited at the archives.
archives.gov/files/records-…

A history of the immigration courts--and the BIA--must be written. I REALLY WANT TO WRITE IT. Not only because I believe it will get us closer to truth about what immigration means and how immigrants and state interact. But also so that we can build a much better system!

My next project, after the book on asylum, will hopefully be on this topic. I know how it important it is FROM my research on asylum. And from visiting immigration courts in New York, Connecticut, Virginia, El Paso, San Diego, Harlingen AND in detention centers in Texas.

But I need to save the records!