In what types of immigration-related litigation is OPLA involved?

The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) primarily engages in immigration-related litigation that directly pertains to the enforcement of immigration laws. This includes bond hearings, removal proceedings, and appeals.

Bond hearings are crucial as they determine whether an undocumented individual can be released from detention while they await immigration proceedings. Removal proceedings involve cases where the government seeks to deport an individual based on violations of immigration law. OPLA attorneys represent the government in these complex proceedings, ensuring that the legal standards and regulations are upheld. Appeals may also arise from decisions made during these hearings, where OPLA participates to advocate for the government's position.

In contrast, the other options fall outside the scope of OPLA's involvement. Criminal trials are handled in criminal courts and do not typically pertain to immigration enforcement by OPLA. Family reunification cases, while related to immigration, are usually dealt with by other agencies and involve different legal processes. Similarly, employment-based visa applications are managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rather than OPLA, which focuses more on litigation and enforcement matters. This distinction clarifies why bond hearings, removal proceedings, and appeals are accurately identified as the types of immigration-related litigation in which OPLA is involved.