August 15, 2008
EOIR Swears In Three Immigration Judges
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Director Kevin A. Ohlson announced that three new immigration judges were sworn in today during an investiture ceremony in San Diego.
Chief Immigration Judge David L. Neal administered the oath of office to Irene C. Feldman and Richard A. Phelps who will serve at the Eloy, Ariz., Immigration Court and Crimilda Guilloty who will serve at the Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Immigration Court.
The judges have been appointed by the Attorney General after completing a rigorous application, evaluation, and interview process with EOIR. They join the ranks of more than 200 immigration judges located in more than 50 immigration courts nationwide.
Immigration judges conduct administrative courtroom proceedings to determine whether foreign-born individuals –– who are charged by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with violating immigration law –– should be removed from the United States or may be granted relief from removal to remain in the country. Immigration judges decide cases independently and on a case-by-case basis. Their decisions are final unless appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). In Fiscal Year 2007, immigration judges completed more than 270,000 proceedings.
Eloy Immigration Court
Irene C. Feldman, Immigration Judge
Judge Feldman was appointed as an immigration judge in August 2008. She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1983 from Mount Holyoke College, a juris doctorate in 1988 from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and a masters in management degree in 1995 from Boston University, Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Israel. From April 2001 to August 2008, Judge Feldman served as an assistant U.S. attorney in Puerto Rico and Tucson. From June 1996 to April 2001, she worked as an assistant district counsel, office of the district counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in New Jersey. From October 1989 to August 1994, Judge Feldman was an assistant prosecutor, Office of the County Prosecutor, Bergen County, N.J. She is a member of the New Jersey Bar.
Richard A. Phelps, Immigration Judge
Judge Phelps was appointed as an immigration judge in August 2008. He received a bachelor of business administration in 1977 from Eastern New Mexico University, and a juris doctorate in 1979 from Oklahoma City University School of Law. From July 2001 to August 2008, Judge Phelps was an assistant chief counsel, trial attorney, and senior attorney in the office of the chief counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS. From October 1981 to January 2001, he was in the Air Force serving in many legal capacities including as the staff judge advocate. From September 1980 to October 1981, Judge Phelps was in private practice. From December 1979 to September 1980, he worked as an assistant trust officer, Clovis National Bank, Clovis, N.M. Judge Phelps is a member of the New Mexico Bar.
Guaynabo Immigration Court
Crimilda Guilloty, Immigration Judge
Judge Guilloty was appointed as an immigration judge in August 2008. She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1974 and a master’s degree in 1980, both from Interamerican University, and a juris doctorate in 1993 from the University of Puerto Rico. From 1981 to August 2008, Judge Guilloty served in various positions with the former INS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and ICE, DHS, most recently as assistant chief counsel in Puerto Rico. She is a member of the Puerto Rico Bar.
- EOIR -
EOIR, an agency within the Department of Justice, is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases. Specifically, under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR interprets and administers federal immigration laws by conducting immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings. EOIR consists of three components: the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is responsible for managing the numerous immigration courts located throughout the United States where immigration judges adjudicate individual cases; the Board of Immigration Appeals, which primarily conducts appellate reviews of immigration judge decisions; and the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, which adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to providing the fair, expeditious, and uniform interpretation and application of immigration law in all cases.
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