The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that David L. Neal ’81 has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA); he has been Acting Chairman since 2009.
After Wabash, Dave earned a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School, and a J.D. from Columbia Law School. During his career before BIA, Dave served as Chief Immigration Judge, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, Immigration Judge at the Headquarters Immigration Court, special counsel to the Director of EOIR as attorney advisor at the BIA, chief counsel for the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, and he practiced immigration law in Los Angeles. Previously, Dave was the director of policy analysis for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and is currently a member of the District of Columbia and New York State Bars.
The BIA hears appeals of decisions rendered by immigration judges in removal cases brought by the Department of Homeland Security. It is the highest administrative body for interpreting and applying federal immigration laws. Congratulations, Dave!
