EOIR Swears in 27 New Immigration Judges (Oct. 11, 2019)

Introduction

On October 11, 2019, the chief Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) held an investiture ceremony to inaugurate 27 new immigration judges [PDF version]. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Chief Immigration Judge Mary Cheung. The 27 new immigration judges were selected by U.S. Attorney General William Barr.

The 27 new immigration judges will sit on 17 immigration courts and adjudication centers across the us . during this post, we'll provide brief biographical information for every of the new immigration judges with regard to their professional profiles provided by EOIR. we'll examine the courts receiving new immigration judges in alphabetical order after first examining the new judges in New Jersey and ny City immigration courts.

Please see our growing index article to find out about previous appointments to the immigration courts and therefore the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) [see index].

Common Abbreviations

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OLPA)

List of Immigration Courts Receiving New Immigration Judges
Elizabeth Immigration Court (New Jersey)
New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court (New York)
New York — Varick Immigration Court (New York)
Bloomington Immigration Court (Minnesota)
Chicago Immigration Court (Illinois)
Dallas Immigration Court (Texas)
Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center (Texas)
Houston Immigration Court (Texas)
Miami Immigration Court (Florida)
Miami (Krome) Immigration Court (Florida)
Omaha Immigration Court (Nebraska)
Philadelphia Immigration Court (Pennsylvania)
Phoenix Immigration Court (Arizona)
San Diego Immigration Court (California)
San Francisco Immigration Court (California)
San Juan Immigration Court (Puerto Rico)

Elizabeth Immigration Court (New Jersey)
One new immigration judge has begun hearing cases at the Elizabeth Immigration Court.

Pallavi S. Shirole, Immigration Judge, Elizabeth Immigration Court
2017-2019: Associate legal advisor for the National Security Law Section, OLPA, ICE, DHS, within the District of Columbia.
2016-2017: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Portland, Oregon.
2015-2017: Director of law program at a highschool .
2010-2015: Assistant state attorney for the Office of the state attorney , in Baltimore.
Law degree from University of Baltimore School of Law in 2009.

New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court (New York)

Five new immigration judges were sworn in to take a seat on the ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court.

L. Batya Schwartz Eherens, Immigration Judge, ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court
2012-2019: Private practice as partner in ny -based immigration firm .
2006-2012: Private practice as immigration attorney in ny .
Law degree from American University Washington College of Law in 2003.

Deborah E. Klahr, Immigration Judge, ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

2018-2019: Supervisory immigration officer then section chief with the ny City Field Office, USCIS, DHS, in ny .
2017-2018: Senior immigration services officer with the Newark Field Office, USCIS, DHS, in Newark, New Jersey.
2013-2017: Asylum officer and supervisory asylum officer with the Newark Asylum Office, USCIS, DHS, in Lyndhurst, New Jersey.
2000-2013: Private practice as an immigration attorney at various ny and New Jersey law firms.
1997-1999: Staff attorney for the Bar Association for the town of latest York, in ny .
1992-1996: Private practice in ny .
Law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1992.

Thomas N. Kouris, Immigration Judge, ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

2010-2019: Private practice in ny .
Law degree from Boston College school of law in 2009.

Laura N. Pierro, Immigration Judge, ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court
1999-2018: Prosecutor in various capacities for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, in Toms River, New Jersey.
1997-1998: Law clerk to 3 criminal judges of the court of latest Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage, and therefore the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1997.

Cathy Sagesse, Immigration Judge, ny — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

2016-2019: Assistant chief counsel, Office of the overall Counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Miami, Florida.
2007-2016: Assistant state's attorney for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office in Miami, Florida.
Law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 2007.

New York — Varick Immigration Court (New York)

One new judge began hearing cases at the ny — Varick Immigration Court.

Forrest W. Hoover III, Immigration Judge, ny — Varick Immigration Court
2008-2019: Judge advocate, defense counsel, prosecutor, and military judge for the U.S. United States Marine Corps in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan.
1999-2005: Logistics officer for the U.S. United States Marine Corps in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Okinawa, Japan; and Quantico, Virginia.
Retired from the U.S. United States Marine Corps in 2019 with the rank of light colonel .
Law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2008; Master of legal code Degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and faculty in 2012.

Bloomington Immigration Court (Minnesota)

One new judge began hearing cases at the Bloomington Immigration Court.

Monte G. Miller, Immigration Judge, Bloomington Immigration Court
2001-2019: Assistant and senior attorney with the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Criminal Division, in Minneapolis.
2017-2019: judge with the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary.
2012-2017: Appellate judge with the Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals.
1994-2019: Judge advocate and military judge for the U.S. Navy in many locations.
Remains captain and judge advocate within the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Law degree from the Mitchell College of Law in 1993.

Chicago Immigration Court (Illinois)

One new Judge began hearing cases at the Chicago Immigration Court.

Jushua D. Luskin, Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court
2015-2019: Commissioner at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.
2011-2015: Arbitrator at the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission.
2003-2011: Private practice in Illinois.
2000-2003: Judge advocate for the U.S. Navy.
1999-1999: Of counsel to the State's Attorney's Appellate Prosecutor's Office, in Illinois.
1998-1998: Assistant state attorney , in Champaign County, Illinois.
Law degree from the University of Michigan in 1997.

Dallas Immigration Court (Texas)

One new judge began hearing cases at the Dallas Immigration Court.

Jason D. Ferguson, Immigration Judge, Dallas Immigration Court
2016-2019: First assistant DA for the 119th Judicial District of Texas, in San Angelo , Texas.
2012-2016: Assistant DA for the 51st and 119th Judicial Districts of Texas, in San Angelo .
2010-2012: Assistant DA for the 31st Judicial District of Texas, in Pampa, Texas.
Law degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2009.

Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center (Texas)
One new judge began hearing cases at the Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center.

Shelly W. Schools, Immigration Judge, Fort Worth Immigration Adjudication Center
1997-2019: Judge advocate, prosecutor, defense counsel at the trial and appellate level, staff judge advocate, and judge within the U.S. Air Force at many locations.
Retired from the Air Force with the rank of Colonel in 2019.
Law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1997.

Houston Immigration Court (Texas)

One new judge began hearing cases at the Houston Immigration Court.

Erica J. McGuirk, Immigration Judge, Houston Immigration Court
2012-2019: Associate counsel with USCIS, DHS, in Houston, Texas.
2003-2012: Senior attorney and assistant chief counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS, in Houston.
2002-2003: Assistant chief counsel, Office of the District Counsel, with the previous INS, DOJ, in Houston.
1998-2002: trial lawyer with the Office of the Solicitor, Department of Labor, in Dallas, Texas.
Law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1998.

Miami Immigration Court (Florida)

Three new judges began hearing cases at the Miami Immigration Court.

Christina M. Martyak, Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court
2006-2019: Assistant chief counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, ICE, DHS, in Miami, Florida.
2005-2006: Assistant statewide prosecutor for the Florida Office of the Attorney General, in Miami.
2000-2004: Assistant state's attorney for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, in Miami.
Law degree from St. Thomas University in 2000.

Ian D. Midgley, Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court

2014-2019: Supervisory law judge with the Office of Medicare Hearing and Appeals, Department of Health and Human Services, in Miami.
2008-2014: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Orlando, Florida.
2006-2008: Active duty judge advocate for the U.S. Navy, in Yokosuka, Japan.
2001-2006: Active duty judge advocate for the U.S. Army, in Kitzingen, Germany, and at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Serves as judge advocate for the U.S. Navy Reserve (since 2009).
Law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1998.

Irene M. Recio, Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court

2014-2019: Branch chief at the executive Appeals Office (AAO), USCIS, DHS.
2013-2014: Adjudications officer and supervisor at the Immigrant Investor Program Office, USCIS, DHS, within the District of Columbia.
2012-2013: Adjudications officer at AAO, USCIS, DHS, within the District of Columbia.
1997-2011: Private practice in various capacities in Washington D.C.
Law degree from the University of Miami School of Law in 1995.

Miami (Krome) Immigration Court (Florida)
One new judge began hearing cases at the Miami (Krome) Immigration Court.

Jorge L. Pereira, Immigration Judge, Miami (Krome) Immigration Court
2008-2019: Assistant chief counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Miami, Florida.
1996-2008: Private practice at two law firms in Miami.
1995-1996: Assistant state's attorney for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office in Miami.
Law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1995.

2008-2011: Associate legal advisor for the DLCL, ICE, DHS, within the District of Colimbia.
2007-2008: Judicial law clerk for Judge Donald E. O'Brien within the us District Court for the District of Iowa, in Sioux City , Iowa.
2002-2007: Private practice in Nebraska and Washington D.C.
Law degree from Creighton University School of Law in 2002.

Philadelphia Immigration Court (Pennsylvania)

One new judge began hearing cases at the Philadelphia Immigration Court.

Bao Q. Nguyen, Immigration Judge, Philadelphia Immigration Court
2016-2019: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in San Antonio and Pearsall, Texas.
2006-2016: Private practice in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Utah.
Law degree from the Temple University School of Law in 2005.

Joseph S. Imburgia, Immigration Judge, Phoenix Immigration Court

2002-2019: Attorney and military judge, including Chief Circuit Military Judge for the Pacific Circuit, with the U.S. Air Force at many locations.
Retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2019 with the rank of colonel.
Law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2002; Master of Laws in 2009 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and faculty .

Melissa B. Karlen, Immigration Judge, Phoenix Immigration Court

2008-2019: Assistant U.S. attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona, DOJ, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Assistant chief counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in l. a. , California.
2002-2007: Deputy prosecutor with the town and County of Honolulu Prosecutor's Office, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
2001-2002: Private practice.
Law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2001.

San Diego Immigration Court (California)
One new judge began hearing cases at the San Diego Immigration Court.

Guy G. Grande, Immigration Judge, San Diego Immigration Court
2015-2019: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, at the Otay Mesa prison , in San Diego , California.
1994-2015: Private immigration practice.
Law degree from the University of San Diego in 1994.

Gregory L. Simmons, Immigration Judge, San Francisco Immigration Court

2009-2013: General courts-martial judge , in California.
1989-2009: Judge advocate for the U.S. United States Marine Corps in many locations.
Retired from the U.S. United States Marine Corps in 2013.
Law degree from Baylor University School of Law in 1989; Master of Laws degree in 1996 from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and faculty in 1996.

San Juan Immigration Court (Puerto Rico)
One new judge began hearing cases at the San Juan Immigration Court.

Pedro J. Espinal, Immigration Judge, San Juan Immigration Court

2016-2019: Deputy chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in San Juan , Puerto Rico.
2009-2011: Adjudications services officer, USCIS, DHS, in San Juan .
2007-2009: Adjudications services officer, USCIS, DHS, in New York.
2004-2007: Private practice in San Juan .
Law degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2004.