For immigrants who come to court without a lawyer, judges have traditionally asked which languages they speak and then found them interpreters to explain how the court system works. Had the woman's asylum hearing been held earlier even a few weeks earlier Coln thinks she would've had a good chance of getting asylum. Immigration Judge Samuel M. Factor began hearing cases at the New York City Immigration Court in October 2018. She will oversee the Atlanta, Charlotte, and Stewart Immigration Courts. However, if judges within a Court are assigned to "She suffered horrendous abuse, she went to the police, really to no avail. SAS Output. [3][4] During the proceedings, an immigration judge may grant any type of immigration relief or benefit to an alien, including to his or her family members. Individuals from this order of frequency, were El Salvador (18.2%), Guatemala (16.0%), Honduras (14.6%), Mexico (10.5%), China Afterwards, Mandbir said he felt relieved. The Immigration Judges' initials are attached to this Order as Judge Chon has a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in SanFrancisco. If convicted, Samuel faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Immigration Judge Brandon L. Hart began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center in October 2018. where Judge Factor decided these cases denied asylum 34 percent of the time. Ask us immigration, deportation or immigration appeals questions online with our convenient Ask a Questionform. "That's when I decided to go the police," she said. An immigration judge, formerly known as a special inquiry officer,[1] is an employee of the United States Department of Justice who confers U.S. citizenship or nationality upon lawful permanent residents who are statutorily entitled to such benefits. Other nationalities in descending order of frequency appearing before Judge Der-Yeghiayan were: Judge Der-Yeghiayan was selected in 1978 as a trial attorney for the Immigration and Immigration Judge Paul A. McCloskey began hearing cases at the Arlington Immigration Court in October 2018. To give New Yorkers the access they deserve to government data and information, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the Open NY initiative in March 2013 and signed Executive Order 95. Department of Homeless Services, Cityof New York. From 1987 to 2018, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney, first in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and section for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California. Immigration Judge Oshea Denise Spencer began hearing cases at the New York City Immigration Court in October 2018. specialized dockets or hearing locations, then case compositions are likely to continue to differ and can Prior to her appointment, Judge Guidry was a deputy chief counsel with ICE in Houston from 2009 to 2018. From 2008 to 2018, Judge Leonard was an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas. "District Counsel of the Year" award in 1998 and the Frank J. McGarr award for "Outstanding This story has been updated to reflect that the video was viewed last week, not this week. The business address is 26 Federal Plz FL 14, New York, NY 10278-4. Joel Rose [11] A conviction for a person who is under 18 years of age and who was charged as an adult constitutes a conviction for immigration purposes. Assistance, State of New York, in Brooklyn.From 2007 to 2010, he was an agency attorney with the Immigration Judge Jeffery R. Nance began hearing cases at the Stewart Immigration Court in October 2018. of asylum claims. Judge Doolittle served as a judge advocate for the U.S. Army from 2004-2017, retiring as a colonel. Judge Taylor served as a law clerk for Judge Robert C. Brack of the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico and for Judge Eugene E. Siler, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Converted appeared pro se at the April 22, Judge Jacobs has a law degree from the University of Miami LawSchool. The option requires a state court order, and, in doing so, often creates confusion among state court judges as to their role in the process of legalizing a child's immigration status. Naturalization Service (INS) in Chicago under the Attorney General's Honor Program. Immigration Judge Jaime Jasso began hearing cases at the Imperial Immigration Court in October 2018. from China. Before and after her stint as a U.S. attorney, she was in private practice. Judge Factor earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 and a Bachelor of Science in 2002, both about 8.2% of asylum seekers are not represented. "I just don't believe your claim is rewarded with asylum.". An immigration judge ordered his release. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The current status is Currently registered. in different parts of the country tend to have proportionately larger shares from some countries than from Gothamist is a website about New York City news, arts, events and food, brought to you by New York Public Radio. FALLS CHURCH, VA The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of five new immigration judges. But its not as user-friendly as the video thats shown during jury duty. Prior to becoming an immigration judge, she accrued two decades of experience as a senior trial attorney with the Department of Justice in Washington D.C after serving as a local prosecutor in Virginia from 1993 to 1998. of the asylum seeker appear to often impact decision outcome. But he says the "Matter of A-B-" ruling may also be a factor. Official websites use .gov He presides over a detained docket. It hears cases via videoteleconference. Tsankov was appointed as an immigration judge in 2006 and is based in New York, where she also teaches at Fordham University School of Law. You can follow her on Twitter at @bethfertig. Judge Olivia Cassin in New York City allows immigrants to remain in the country in 93 percent of cases she hears. He has a law degree from DePaulUniversity. She has a law degree from Tulane LawSchool. Before beginning his stint on the immigration bench, Judge Miller was an assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas from 2010 to 2018. In her hearing last June, the Nicaraguan woman told an immigration judge in Miami that her boyfriend got increasingly violent after she got pregnant. The Biden team has hired a slate of immigration judges initially selected during the Trump era, angering . He said he and other Immigration Judges have had it with a rule they contend, restricts what they can say publicly. From 2010 to 2018, Judge Factor was an administrative law judge with the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance for the state of New York. The Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center is located in Fort Worth, Texas. From 2012 to 2018, he was a military judge. Several other larger immigration courts received multiple judges. These included associate deputy principal advisor for Field Legal Operations (2016-2018); deputy chief of the Criminal Law division (2010-2014); associate legal director in the Enforcement Law division (2010-2014); and assistant chief counsel in Baltimore (2002-2008). Over one hundred different nationalities had at least one hundred Judge Cole is a member of the Illinois State Bar. She has a law degree from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College ofLaw. Judge Factor is a member of the New York State Bar and others. Turning to one respondent with a young child, Cassin added, I know that this is hard but you need to help your son.. As might be expected, Swears in 46 Immigration Judge s . To see an index of our previous posts on new immigration hires, please see our full article on the issue [see index]. "I've had to look a person in the eye and tell them I believe you were telling me the truth," Metcalf said. The admitted year is 2005. Theyre then given a list of low-cost legal service providers and some court documents, which are provided in various languages. Immigration Judge Cassie A. Thogersen began hearing cases at the LaSalle Immigration Court in October 2018. [10][11], Last edited on 25 February 2022, at 09:33, "Attorney General Sessions Delivers Remarks to the Largest Class of Immigration Judges in History for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)", "Sessions criticizes immigrants' attorneys before immigration judges", "Executive Office for Immigration Review to Swear in 28 Immigration Judges, Bringing Judge Corps to Highest Level in History", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Immigration_Judge_(United_States)&oldid=1073908037, This page was last edited on 25 February 2022, at 09:33. In the nation as a whole during this same period, major nationalities of asylum seekers, in descending The Newark Immigration Court is located in Newark, NewJersey. Immigration Judge Alice Song Haryte began hearing cases at the York Immigration Court in October 2018. His experience prior to beginning his service on the immigration bench came as a prosecutor. But he also said he was glad he could ask the judge more questions. An interpreter was there in person. An immigration judge, formerly known as a special inquiry officer, is an employee of the United States Department of Justice who confers U.S. citizenship or nationality upon lawful permanent residents who are statutorily entitled to such benefits. An immigration judge is appointed by (and works under the direction of) the U.S. Attorney General. Judge Masters has a law degree from Boston College LawSchool. In the memo, obtained by CNN and sent to all immigration judges on Friday, the Justice Department lays out specific measures of performance for judges, including completing at least 700. Former immigration judge Mark Metcalf knows how gut-wrenching these cases can be. He has a law degree from the University of Texas School ofLaw. he granted 81, gave no conditional grants, and denied 177. From 2014 to 2018, he had served as a deputy chief counsel for ICE in Adelanto, California, after serving as an assistant chief counsel with the ICE Office of Principal Legal Advisor in Adelanto and Florence, Arizona from 2009 to 2014. He has a law degree from Quinnipiac University and a master of laws degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center andSchool. Denial Rate : Immigration Court: Judge: Decisions % Grants % Denials : Adelanto: Everett, Timothy R. 298: 10.1: 89.9 : McGrail, Elizabeth H. 273: 11: 89 : Dorfman . Judge She has a law degree from Stetson University School ofLaw. For example, being represented in court and the nationality just two factors that appear to impact asylum decision outcomes. 2022. Immigration Judge Abby L. Meyer began hearing cases at the Omaha Immigration Court in October 2018. by Rebecca Beitsch - 05/08/21 10:17 AM ET. Nine served as military lawyers, including for the U.S. Coast Guard and NationalGuard. From 2003 to July 2016, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorneys Office, Department of Justice, in Chicago. Prior to his appointment as an immigration judge, Judge Cole was an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois from 2003-2016. For Judge Der-Yeghiayan, the largest group of asylum seekers appearing before him came He kicked the door so many times that the door fell.". The Los Angeles Immigration Court led the way with nine judges, bringing the size of its bench to 34. That is 112 Judge Bales has a law degree from Ave Maria School ofLaw. Coln points to a stack of legal filings more than five inches high, detailing the years of sexual and physical abuse her client described to her. HOURS OF OPERATION: Public Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In a written notice of hearing, the immigration court set petitioners' removal hearing date with the Immigration Judge ("IJ") for "Apr 22, 2016." Ms. Hernandez was also reminded of this hearing date during one of her mandatory appointments for her alternatives-to-detention program. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Samuel B. Cole to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Great Judge and excellent human being. His legal experience comes primarily from his career as a prosecutor. Note that "When I saw them, I ran to hug them," she said through an interpreter, her eyes lighting up as she described their reunion at the airport. The settlement agreement between the DOJ's Executive Office of Immigration Review and the National Association of Immigration Judges resolves a dispute centered on the Trump administration's push to nix recognition of the union, which has an existing collective bargaining agreement in place with the agency. He says immigration courts have been flooded in recent years with claims based on gang violence and domestic abuse that should not qualify for asylum. Judge Perry has a law degree from the Loyola LawSchool. Immigration Judge Anne Kristina Perry began hearing cases at the Los Angeles Immigration Court in October 2018. "Part of the job of an immigration judge is to educate the public about the immigration courts and the role they play in society," said Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor, president of the . Immigration Judge Laura C. Figueroa began hearing cases at the San Francisco Immigration Court in October 2018. He served as a state attorney in Florida from 2000 to 2008. Prior to her appointment, she was the director of immigration and special programs with Legal Services NYC. And, given the required legal grounds for a successful asylum claim, asylum seekers from some Prior to his appointment, he served as a judge advocate with the U.S. Marine Corps for over two decades, from 1996 to 2018. Its about 15 minutes long and pretty comprehensive. The young woman from Nicaragua has the dubious distinction of being one of the first migrants to be denied asylum under a June 2018 ruling from then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a case known as "Matter of A-B-.". From 1998 to 2000, Judge Guidry was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Labor in Kansas City, Missouri. contribute to differences in asylum denial rates. Government Attorney of the Year" in 1986 from the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar The Houston Immigration Court is located in Houston,Texas. Sam Factor is an attornery registered with . The information on the new immigration judges is extracted from an EOIR news release on their hiring [PDF version]. 2023 New York Public Radio. Judge Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Rice University and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from the Harvard Law School. made it harder for victims of domestic abuse and gang violence to get asylum, 'I'm A Survivor Of Violence': Portraits Of Women Waiting In Mexico For U.S. Asylum, according to the TRAC Immigration project at Syracuse University, Asylum-Seekers In California Wait For Their Day In Immigration Court, according to the Executive Office for Immigration Review, one of the protected categories in U.S. and international asylum law. represented the lowest - Judge Der-Yeghiayan receives a rank of 113. (7.5%), India (4.5%), Cuba (2.5%), Venezuela (2.1%), Ecuador (2.1%), Nicaragua (1.9%), Haiti (1.7%), In the nation as a whole during this same period, major nationalities of asylum Judge Factor earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 and a Bachelor of Science in 2002, both from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island, and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. The October announcement explained that " [s]ince Jan. 20, 2017, the [Department of Justice] has increased EOIR's immigration judge corps from 306 to 520 adjudicators an increase of nearly 70 percent.". Judge Guerrero has a law degree from Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College ofLaw. Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Samuel M. Factor to begin hearing cases in October2018. This young woman and her son fled Nicaragua in 2016 to get away from the boy's abusive father. Judge Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Rice University and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from the Harvard Law School. From 1995 through 1999, she served as a staff sergeant for the 147th Medical Squadron, Texas Air National Guard. Neboh, Ikponmwosa, Abraham, and Ozor remain in extradition proceedings. This month, a few immigration courts around the country including in New York City turned that in-person explanation over to a prerecorded video. John R. Doolittle, II, Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, Houston Immigration Court . From 1991 through 1995, she served as a senior airman for the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, U.S. Air Force. There was only one immigrant without an attorney the day I saw the video in English in Judge Samuel Factors courtroom. If judges were ranked Courthouse in Washington, D.C. After a thorough application process, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Elisa Castrolugo, Samuel B. Cole, Kathryn L. DeAngelis, Lisa Ann J. de Cardona and Eva S. Saltzman to their new positions. It hears cases via videoteleconference. Factor gave him a transcript of the video afterwards, and asked if he had any questions. Denial rates reflect in part the differing composition of cases assigned to The union has already complained that EOIR has been cutting back on interpreters for other court hearings. He's 3 years old now, an outgoing little kid with a Paw Patrol backpack. Figure 1: Percent of Asylum Matters Denied, Figure 2: Comparing Denial Rates (percents), Figure 3: Asylum Seeker Had Representation, Figure 4: Asylum Decisions by Nationality. The court remanded the case to the three-judge panel to re-examine the petition for review in light of its clarification of the standard for reviewing the Board's adverse credibility determinations. But many immigration lawyers disagree. Prior to becoming an immigration judge, he was a Marine officer from 1998 to 2018 and served as a Judge Advocate from 2007 to 2018. immigration courts located in different parts of the country tend to have The federal government sought Supreme Court review, saying that the governing statute did not require bond hearings before immigration judges. Immediately prior to beginning his service on the immigration bench, Judge Masters was an assistant chief counsel and deputy chief counsel for ICE in Boston from 2008 to 2018. Judge Fernandez has a law degree from the University of Houston LawCenter. Over the past year, in the heat of a border migration crisis, 45 judges have left, moved into new roles in the immigration court system - which is run by the Justice Department - or passed .