Eloy and Florence Immigration Courts in Arizona Get Five New Immigration Judges
Immigration courts: Eloy Immigration Court, Florence Immigration Court · Arizona Immigration Courts
On August 27, 2026, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced that Robert B. Daly had been appointed as an immigration judge at the Florence Immigration Court in Arizona. He is the fifth new immigration judge EOIR has assigned to the two Arizona detention courts, Eloy and Florence, since May 2026: three at Eloy and two at Florence. The source is EOIR's August 27, 2026 announcement (opens in new tab) and its earlier announcements of May 21 and July 29, 2026.
This article is general information about court staffing, not legal advice. It does not describe or evaluate any judge.
The five new judges
Each entry below comes from EOIR's own biographical announcement. The month is when EOIR says the judge began hearing cases.
- Bradly P. Duvall (Eloy Immigration Court): began hearing cases in May 2026. Prior post, per EOIR: private practice in Mesa, Arizona. EOIR announcement: May 21, 2026 (opens in new tab).
- Bret J. Engstrom (Eloy Immigration Court): began hearing cases in July 2026. Prior post, per EOIR: assistant chief counsel, ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Eloy. EOIR announcement: July 29, 2026 (opens in new tab).
- Aaron S. Ludwig (Eloy Immigration Court): began hearing cases in July 2026. Prior post, per EOIR: partner at a law firm in Mesa, Arizona. EOIR announcement: July 29, 2026 (opens in new tab).
- Michael S. Rapiejko (Florence Immigration Court): began hearing cases in July 2026. Prior post, per EOIR: counsel, ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Eloy. EOIR announcement: July 29, 2026 (opens in new tab).
- Robert B. Daly (Florence Immigration Court): began hearing cases in August 2026. Prior post, per EOIR: sole practitioner in Queen Creek, Arizona. EOIR announcement: August 27, 2026 (opens in new tab).
All five were announced as permanent immigration judges, not temporary ones.
Who is on each bench now
EOIR lists the current judges on each court's official page. As of the pages' last update on September 8, 2026:
- Eloy Immigration Court (opens in new tab) (EOIR page) lists six immigration judges: Bradly P. Duvall, Bret Engstrom, Aaron Ludwig, William Mabry III, Nicolas Orechwa and Michael Schnitzer.
- Florence Immigration Court (opens in new tab) (EOIR page) lists five immigration judges: Robert Daly, Natalie B. Huddleston, Victoria A. Levin, Michael Rapiejko and Bruce A. Taylor.
Judge assignments change. The EOIR page for each court is the place to check who sits there today.
About the two courts
Both courts sit inside detention facilities controlled by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), according to EOIR:
- Eloy Immigration Court, 1705 E. Hanna Road, Suite 366, Eloy, AZ 85131. EOIR says the court is located in a DHS-controlled detention facility and refers visitors to the Eloy Detention Center for entry rules.
- Florence Immigration Court, 3260 N. Pinal Parkway Avenue, Florence, AZ 85132. EOIR says the court is located in a DHS-controlled detention facility, the Florence Service Processing Center.
Both list public hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and window filing hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday except federal holidays. EOIR's operational status page (opens in new tab) listed both courts as OPEN when we checked. Our pages on the Eloy Immigration Court and the Florence Immigration Court collect the court details, detention and bond information in one place.
What this means if you have a case at Eloy or Florence
A new judge on the bench does not change the rules of your case. What you should do is the same as always, and it matters more when someone is detained:
- Read your latest hearing notice. It shows the date, the time and the court. Rely on the most recent notice, not an older one.
- Check your case online. EOIR's Automated Case Information portal (opens in new tab) shows the next hearing and the court handling the case. You need the person's A-number.
- File at the correct court. Filings go to the court that has the case. If a case moved between Eloy, Florence or another court, file where it is now.
- Keep the address current. A person in removal proceedings must tell the court about a new address within five days on Form EOIR-33 (8 CFR 1003.15(d)(2)). A missed hearing can lead to a removal order issued in the person's absence (INA 240(b)(5)).
- Ask about bond early. For people held at Eloy or Florence, whether a judge can hear a bond request depends on how the person entered and on the detention statute that applies. That is a legal question to review with counsel.
Frequently asked questions
How many new immigration judges went to Eloy and Florence in 2026?
Five, according to EOIR's announcements: Bradly P. Duvall (May 2026), Bret J. Engstrom and Aaron S. Ludwig (July 2026) at Eloy; Michael S. Rapiejko (July 2026) and Robert B. Daly (August 2026) at Florence.
How do I find out which judge has my case?
Check the latest hearing notice and EOIR's Automated Case Information portal at acis.eoir.justice.gov. EOIR's court pages list the judges who sit at each court.
Are the Eloy and Florence immigration courts open?
EOIR's operational status page listed both courts as open when we checked. Check that page before you travel, because closures are posted there.
Is my case affected because a new judge joined the court?
The appointments themselves do not change any filing deadline or hearing date. Your hearing notice and the court's orders in your case control.
If you or a family member has a case at the Eloy or Florence Immigration Court, you can discuss your situation with Carlos Maury, former U.S. Immigration Judge, at (213) 769-0050. Hablamos Español.
Related service: Immigration bond lawyer