August 5, 2005

Immigration Judge Takes Oath of Office In Chicago

CHICAGO, Il. – George P. Katsivalis was sworn in today as an immigration judge during an investiture ceremony at 3 p.m. at the U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Deputy Chief Immigration Judge Thomas L. Pullen, from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Falls Church, Va., administered the oath of office. 

Judge Katsivalis joins the ranks of more than 200 immigration judges located in 53 immigration courts throughout the nation.  Immigration judges are responsible for conducting formal administrative proceedings to determine whether foreign-born individuals who are charged with violations of federal immigration law should be removed from the United States or may be granted relief from removal.  Immigration judges decide each case independently and their decisions are final unless appealed or certified to the Board of Immigration Appeals.  In the past year, immigration judges completed more than 300,000 matters.  They also are authorized to administer oaths of citizenship to candidates for naturalization.

George P. Katsivalis was appointed as an immigration judge in February 2005.  He received a bachelor of science degree  in 1982 from Elmhurst College, a juris doctorate in 1985 from the John Marshall Law School, and a masters degree in business administration in 1986 from Rosary College.  Judge Katsivalis served as chief counsel from 2003 to 2005 with the Chicago office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.  He served as district counsel from 2002 to 2003, and assistant district counsel from 1986 to 2002 with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in Chicago.  During this period, from 2001 to 2005, Judge Katsivalis also served as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office.  From 1983 to 1986, Judge Katsivalis served as an attorney and law clerk at the Law Offices of William J. Harte, Ltd., in Chicago.  He is a member of the Illinois bar, the United States Supreme Court, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

- EOIR -