Immigration judges gained 26 new members on October 22, 2026, when the Executive Office for Immigration Review announced the swearing in of 22 regular judges and four temporary judges.
The appointments add adjudicators to the immigration court system as EOIR continues hiring and training judges responsible for deciding cases involving removability, protection from removal and other immigration-law issues.
The investiture ceremony took place at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
EOIR Acting Director Sirce E.
Owen delivered remarks, and Chief Immigration Judge Teresa L.
Riley administered the oath of office.
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Who was appointed
Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed 22 individuals to regular immigration judge positions and four individuals to temporary immigration judge positions, according to the EOIR announcement.
The new appointees are Kathy A.
Aguiar, Jeremy R.
Arn, Anthony Bailey, John M.
Batchelor, Matthew A.
Braden, Jeffrey N.
Burger, Jackie G.
Grau, Alexander R.
Hallman, Cortney N.
Hellard, William Irvine, Michael A.
Jones, Priscilla M.
Lewis, Julie Huffman McCarver, Matt D.
McConnell, Jeffrey W.
McCray, David Nichoff, Kathy W.
Parrino, Clark Petschek, Tracy C.
Riley, Brett J.
Rogers, Timothy L.
Strange and David D.
Vandenberg.
The four temporary appointees are Jason K.
Kaneyuki, Courtney E.
Lewis, Lauren A.
Mayo and Jacob E.
Meusch.
EOIR said biographical summaries are available for the new adjudicators, but the release itself does not identify individual court assignments or provide start dates for hearings involving particular judges.
What immigration judges do
Immigration judges are appointed by the Attorney General to preside over proceedings in the Department of Justice immigration court system.
Their work can include deciding whether a person is removable from the United States and whether the person qualifies for relief or protection under federal immigration law.
EOIR identifies asylum matters, detention and bond proceedings, adjustment of status cases and other forms of immigration relief among the issues considered by immigration judges.
Judges may conduct hearings in traditional courtrooms, detention facilities or locations using video technology, depending on the court and the proceeding.
Their decisions can affect whether a person remains in the United States, receives protection from removal or is ordered to leave the country.
Training will precede full adjudication work
EOIR said the new adjudicators undergo a formal training program before taking on their responsibilities.
Under an EOIR training fact sheet issued in August 2026, initial training for new adjudicators consists of five consecutive weeks beginning when they enter on duty.
The first three weeks focus on immigration law, procedure and judicial skills through classroom instruction and practical exercises.
The training plan also includes an immigration law examination during the first week of classroom instruction.
The final two weeks take place in the judge’s assigned home court and include work with a mentor immigration judge.
EOIR says the mentoring relationship continues for at least one year and is intended to provide observation, feedback and guidance as new judges develop courtroom experience.
The agency also provides continuing education for sitting immigration judges through live, online and recorded training programs.
What the appointments mean for pending cases
The addition of 26 adjudicators may give EOIR more personnel to distribute across its immigration courts, but the October 22 announcement does not promise a specific reduction in processing times for any individual case.
The release also does not announce changes to hearing dates, filing requirements, appeal rights or eligibility standards.
Hiring announcements alone do not automatically change a person’s existing immigration court schedule.
People with pending cases should continue following the instructions on their hearing notices and should not assume that a new appointment cancels, postpones or transfers a scheduled hearing.
Anyone who has a case before the immigration court should promptly update the court when required, monitor official notices and seek advice from a qualified immigration attorney or authorized representative when possible.
Respondents can use EOIR’s official case-information resources to review available case details, but an online record should not be treated as a substitute for a hearing notice or legal advice.
EOIR continues a broader hiring effort
The October appointments follow several other EOIR announcements in 2026 involving new judges and temporary immigration judges.
On September 24, EOIR announced the swearing in of 47 immigration judges and six temporary immigration judges.
The agency also announced additional judicial appointments in earlier 2026 releases, including groups sworn in during May, June, July and August.
Those announcements show that the agency’s hiring effort has continued throughout the year, although the October 22 release does not provide a cumulative total for all 2026 appointments.
EOIR maintains workload and adjudication statistics that include pending cases, new cases, completions and information about the immigration judge corps.
The agency cautions that its case statistics can change as staff update the underlying database.
What people with immigration court cases should do
- Keep every scheduled hearing unless the court issues an official change.
- Read all notices from EOIR and the immigration court carefully.
- Maintain a current address with the court when required.
- Keep copies of applications, evidence, notices and proof of filing.
- Ask a qualified immigration lawyer or authorized representative about case-specific deadlines and legal options.
- Use official EOIR resources to confirm court procedures and available case information.
The appointment announcement is an administrative update and does not decide the outcome of any particular immigration case.
Case outcomes depend on the facts, evidence, applicable law and the proceedings before the assigned immigration judge.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many immigration judges did EOIR announce on October 22, 2026?
EOIR announced the swearing in of 22 immigration judges and four temporary immigration judges, for a total of 26 new adjudicators.
Who appointed the new immigration judges?
Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed the 22 immigration judges and four temporary immigration judges named in the EOIR announcement.
Will the new appointments automatically change an existing court hearing date?
No. The announcement does not state that existing hearing dates will change. People with pending cases should follow their latest official court notices unless EOIR or the immigration court provides a specific update.
How are new EOIR immigration judges trained?
EOIR’s training plan includes five weeks of initial training, including classroom instruction, an immigration law examination, practical exercises and supervised work with a mentor judge in the assigned home court.
Fact-Checked: Reported from the EOIR announcement dated October 22, 2026 and cross-checked against current EOIR pages on judge training, court functions and workload statistics.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Immigration court procedures and individual case outcomes depend on the facts and applicable law.
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