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

by Melsida Asatrian on Oct. 22, 2019

Immigration Immigration  Deportation Immigration  Visa 

Summary: On October 11,2019, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) held an investiture ceremony to swear in 27 new immigration judges We will the courts receiving new immigration judges in alphabetical order after first examining the new judges in New Jersey and New York City immigration courts.

immigration attorney nycIntroduction

On October 11, 2019, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) held an investiture ceremony to swear in 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 United States. In this post, we will provide brief biographical information for each of the new immigration judges with reference to their professional profiles provided by EOIR. We will examine the courts receiving new immigration judges in alphabetical order after first examining the new judges in New Jersey and New York City immigration courts.

Please see our growing index article to learn about previous appointments to the immigration courts and 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, in the District of Columbia.
- 2016-2017: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Portland, Oregon.
- 2015-2017: Director of law program at a high school.
- 2010-2015: Assistant state's attorney for the Office of the State's 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 sit on the New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court.

L. Batya Schwartz Eherens, Immigration Judge, New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

- 2012-2019: Private practice as partner in New York-based immigration law firm.
- 2006-2012: Private practice as immigration attorney in New York.
- Law degree from American University Washington College of Law in 2003.

Deborah E. Klahr, Immigration Judge, New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

- 2018-2019: Supervisory immigration officer and then section chief with the New York City Field Office, USCIS, DHS, in New York.
- 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 New York and New Jersey law firms.
- 1997-1999: Staff attorney for the Bar Association for the City of New York, in New York.
- 1992-1996: Private practice in New York.
- Law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1992.

Thomas N. Kouris, Immigration Judge, New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

- 2010-2019: Private practice in New York.
- Law degree from Boston College Law School in 2009.

Laura N. Pierro, Immigration Judge, New York — 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 three criminal judges of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
- Law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1997.

Cathy Sagesse, Immigration Judge, New York — Federal Plaza Immigration Court

- 2016-2019: Assistant chief counsel, Office of the General Counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Miami, Florida.
- 2007-2016: Assistant state 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 New York — Varick Immigration Court.

Forrest W. Hoover III, Immigration Judge, New York — Varick Immigration Court

- 2008-2019: Judge advocate, defense counsel, prosecutor, and military judge for the U.S. Marine Corps in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Okinawa, Japan.
- 1999-2005: Logistics officer for the U.S. Marine Corps in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Okinawa, Japan; and Quantico, Virginia.
- Retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2019 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
- Law degree from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2008; Master of Criminal Law Degree from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School 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: Trial 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 in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
- Law degree from the William 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's 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 district attorney for the 119th Judicial District of Texas, in San Angelo, Texas.
- 2012-2016: Assistant district attorney for the 51st and 119th Judicial Districts of Texas, in San Angelo.
- 2010-2012: Assistant district attorney 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 trial judge in 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 former INS, DOJ, in Houston.
- 1998-2002: Trial attorney 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 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 administrative 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 Administrative Appeals Office (AAO), USCIS, DHS.
- 2013-2014: Adjudications officer and supervisor at the Immigrant Investor Program Office, USCIS, DHS, in the District of Columbia.
- 2012-2013: Adjudications officer at AAO, USCIS, DHS, in 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 attorney for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office in Miami.
- Law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1995.

Omaha Immigration Court (Nebraska)

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

Alexandra Larsen, Immigration Judge, Omaha Immigration Court

- 2004-2019: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Omaha, Nebraska.
- 2012-2014: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
- 2011-2012: Deputy chief and chief of OLPA, District Court Litigation Division (DCLD), ICE, DHS, in the District of Columbia.
- 2008-2011: Associate legal advisor for the DLCL, ICE, DHS, in the District of Colimbia.
- 2007-2008: Judicial law clerk for Judge Donald E. O'Brien in the United States 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.

Phoenix Immigration Court (Arizona)

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

Robert C. Bartlemay Sr., Immigration Judge, Phoenix Immigration Court

- 2010-2019: Senior attorney with OLPA, ICE, DHS, in Phoenix.
- 2007-2010: Assistant chief counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS.
- 1983-2007: Judge advocate for the U.S. Air Force in many locations.
- Law degree from the University of Toledo in 1983.

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 School.

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 Los Angeles, California.
- 2002-2007: Deputy prosecuting attorney with the City 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 Detention Center, in San Diego, California.
- 1994-2015: Private immigration practice.
- Law degree from the University of San Diego in 1994.

San Francisco Immigration Court (California)

Two new judges began hearing cases at the San Francisco Immigration Court.

Andrew J. Caborn, Immigration Judge, San Francisco Immigration Court

- 2015-2019: Assistant chief counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, OLPA, ICE, DHS, in San Francisco, California.
- 2008-2014: Senior deputy district attorney and deputy district attorney for the Tulare County District Attorney's Office, in Tulare, California.
- 2008-2008: Private practice in Los Angeles, California.
- Law degree from Whittier College in 2007; Master of Laws degree from the University of California, Berkley, in 2015.

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

- 2009-2013: General courts-martial trial judge, in California.
- 1989-2009: Judge advocate for the U.S. Marine Corps in many locations.
- Retired from the U.S. 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 School 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.

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