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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1125-AA60</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1125</CODE>
            <NAME>Executive Office for Immigration Review</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>EOIR</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1100</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Justice</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DOJ</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Voluntary Departure: Effect of a Motion To Reopen or Reconsider or a Petition for Review</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[The immigration laws provide that an alien may request and receive a grant of voluntary departure in certain cases; such a grant allows an alien to depart voluntarily during a specified period of time after the order is issued, in lieu of being removed under an order of removal. Voluntary departure is an agreed upon exchange of benefits between the alien and the Government, which provides tangible benefits for aliens who do depart during the time allowed, but there are severe statutory penalties for aliens who voluntarily fail to depart during the time allowed for voluntary departure.  This proposed rule would amend the Department of Justice (Department) regulations regarding voluntary departure to protect the aliens statutory right to file a motion to reopen or reconsider, but also to provide that the aliens filing of a motion to reopen or reconsider prior to the expiration of the voluntary departure period will have the effect of automatically terminating the grant of voluntary departure.  Similarly, the rule also provides that the aliens filing of a petition for judicial review shall automatically terminate the grant of voluntary departure.  This means that the alien will be subject to the alternate order of removal that was issued in conjunction with the grant of voluntary departure, similar to other aliens who were found to be removable, but this approach also means he or she will not be subject to the penalties for failure to depart voluntarily.  However, aliens who do depart the United States during the period allowed for voluntary departure will be deemed to have departed voluntarily notwithstanding the prior filing of a motion or petition for review.

The rule also amends the bond provisions for voluntary departure to make clear that an aliens failure to post a voluntary departure bond as required will not have the effect of exempting the alien from the penalties for failure to depart under the grant of voluntary departure.  Aliens accepting a grant of voluntary departure remain liable for the amount of the voluntary departure bond (in an amount not less than $500) if they do not depart as they had agreed, but they will be able to get a refund of the bond amount upon proof of their departure within the time allowed.  In addition, the rule provides for setting, at the time the immigration judge issues a grant of voluntary departure, a specific dollar amount of not less than $3,000 as a civil money penalty if the alien voluntarily fails to depart within the time allowed.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 1240</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1103</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1182</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1186a</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1124 to 1127</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1129(c)(e)</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1251</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1252 note</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1252a</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1252b</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1362</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>PL 105-100, sec 202 to 203</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>PL 105-277, sec 902</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 CFR 2</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>11/30/2007</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>72 FR 67674</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>01/29/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/18/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR  76927</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>Federal</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Jean</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>King</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>General Counsel</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1125</CODE>
                    <NAME>Executive Office for Immigration Review</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>EOIR</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>703 305-0470</PHONE>
                <FAX>703 305-0443</FAX>
                <EMAIL>eoir.regs@usdoj.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 2600,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Falls Church</CITY>
                    <STATE>VA</STATE>
                    <ZIP>22041</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
