Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO)

The Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO) is led by a Chief Administrative Hearing Officer who is responsible for supervising and managing Administrative Law Judges presiding over hearings mandated by provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) and the Immigration Act of 1990.

Administrative Law Judges within OCAHO hear cases and adjudicate issues arising under provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) related to the following:

1. Employer sanctions, which include matters such as knowingly hiring, recruiting, or referring unauthorized aliens, continued employment of unauthorized aliens, failure to comply with employment eligibility verification requirements, and requiring indemnity bonds from employees in violation of section 274A of the INA.

2. Immigration-related unfair employment practices in violation of INA §274B.

3. Immigration-related document fraud in violation of INA §274C.