El Paso Immigration Court: The 10 New Judges EOIR Assigned Since October 2025
Immigration court: El Paso Immigration Court · Texas Immigration Courts
On August 27, 2026, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced another group of new immigration judges, and one of them, Marissa A. Hackert, was assigned to the El Paso Immigration Court in Texas. She is the tenth new judge EOIR has announced for the El Paso Immigration Court since October 2025: eight immigration judges and two temporary immigration judges.
This is general information, not legal advice. The sources are EOIR's judge announcements, including the August 27, 2026 release (opens in new tab) and its judge biographies (opens in new tab).
The new judges EOIR has announced for El Paso
Each line below comes from the official EOIR biography, which names the El Paso Immigration Court for every one of these judges.
- Steven Paul Meredith (temporary immigration judge) — Began hearing cases: October 2025; From the EOIR biography: U.S. Navy judge advocate (2007–2025), rank of commander; adjudicated claims for the Department of Labor (2012–2025). Member of the Washington State Bar.
- Daniel J. Gallegos (temporary immigration judge) — Began hearing cases: February 2026; From the EOIR biography: Private practice in Albuquerque (2021 to January 2026); district court judge in Albuquerque (2019–2020); judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals (2018). Member of the State Bar of New Mexico.
- Kyle Myers — Began hearing cases: March 2026; From the EOIR biography: Assistant U.S. attorney, Western District of Texas, El Paso Division (2014 to February 2026). Member of the State Bar of Texas.
- Brandon Lee Lettunich — Began hearing cases: April 2026; From the EOIR biography: Staff attorney for the Standing Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee in El Paso; earlier a solo practitioner and assistant district attorney in El Paso. Member of the State Bars of New Mexico and Texas.
- Susanna Martinez — Began hearing cases: April 2026; From the EOIR biography: Assistant chief counsel, ICE, in El Paso (October 2025 to March 2026); criminal assistant U.S. attorney in El Paso and Tucson (2014–2025). Member of the State Bar of Arizona.
- Graciela M. Jiron — Began hearing cases: May 2026; From the EOIR biography: Assistant chief counsel, ICE, in El Paso (2015 to April 2026); earlier a border patrol agent and in private immigration practice in New Orleans. Member of the Louisiana State Bar.
- Michael Matthew Osterberg — Began hearing cases: May 2026; From the EOIR biography: Associate at Chavez Law Firm in El Paso (2024 to April 2026); criminal assistant U.S. attorney in El Paso (2018–2024). Member of the State Bar of Texas.
- Vincent Malainy — Began hearing cases: June 2026; From the EOIR biography: Assistant counsel, Defense Finance and Accounting Service (2023 to May 2026); U.S. Army judge advocate (2017–2022). Member of the State Bar of Michigan.
- Tod M. Thedy — Began hearing cases: June 2026; From the EOIR biography: Foreign service officer, U.S. Department of State (1999–2017); earlier general counsel to the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office (Civil). Member of the Louisiana State Bar.
- Marissa A. Hackert — Began hearing cases: August 2026; From the EOIR biography: Assistant chief counsel, ICE, in El Paso (2020 to August 2026); assistant district attorney in El Paso (2018–2020). Member of the State Bar of Texas.
EOIR announced these judges on October 24, 2025 (opens in new tab), February 5, 2026 (opens in new tab), March 11, 2026 (opens in new tab), April 8, 2026 (opens in new tab), May 21, 2026 (opens in new tab), June 17, 2026 (opens in new tab) and August 27, 2026. The court may have other judges as well; our El Paso Immigration Court page lists the judges currently sitting there.
El Paso Immigration Court vs. El Paso SPC
El Paso has two immigration courts, and it matters which one has your case:
- El Paso Immigration Court: 700 East San Antonio Avenue, Suite 750, El Paso, TX 79901. Open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (filing window until 4:00 p.m.), closed federal holidays. All ten judges above were assigned here.
- El Paso SPC Immigration Court: inside the El Paso Service Processing Center, 8915 Montana Ave., Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79925. This is a detained court. See our El Paso SPC Immigration Court page.
EOIR's operational status page (opens in new tab) lists both courts as open. Each court's phone number is on its EOIR page and on our court pages. Phone numbers and hours can change, so check the court's EOIR page (opens in new tab) before you call or go.
EOIR's Administrative Control list (opens in new tab), updated September 28, 2026, shows which court handles each detention facility and DHS office:
- Under the El Paso Immigration Court: the El Paso, TX DHS District Office (including any sub-offices), the Reeves County Detention Center, the Paso del Norte, TX Port of Entry and the El Paso Sector Centralized Processing Center.
- Under El Paso SPC: the El Paso Service Processing Center, LaTuna Federal Correctional Center and Bluebonnet Detention Center.
If a family member is detained, find out which court has the case before assuming it is either one. Our explainer on bond hearings and immigration detention covers how custody cases work. For the other courts in the state, see our guide to the Texas immigration courts.
What this means if you have a case in El Paso
A new judge at a court can mean that some cases move to a different judge's docket. What it practically means for you:
- Your case may be reassigned. A new judge or a new hearing date does not end your case. Follow the most recent hearing notice you receive.
- Check your case status. Use EOIR's online Automated Case Information portal or its automated telephone line (the number is on EOIR's website) to confirm your next hearing date, time and judge.
- Keep your address current. If you move, file Form EOIR-33 with the court. Notices go to the address EOIR has on file, and missing a hearing can lead to an order of removal in your absence.
- Deadlines do not move. Filing deadlines the court has set still apply unless the court changes them in writing.
- Bring your evidence. Prepare your documents and witnesses for the hearing whoever the judge is.
For how a case moves from the Notice to Appear to a decision, see our guide to removal proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the new judges at the El Paso Immigration Court?
Since October 2025, EOIR has announced ten: temporary immigration judges Steven Paul Meredith (October 2025) and Daniel J. Gallegos (February 2026), and immigration judges Kyle Myers (March 2026), Brandon Lee Lettunich and Susanna Martinez (April 2026), Graciela M. Jiron and Michael Matthew Osterberg (May 2026), Vincent Malainy and Tod M. Thedy (June 2026), and Marissa A. Hackert (August 2026).
Where is the El Paso Immigration Court?
At 700 East San Antonio Avenue, Suite 750, El Paso, TX 79901. The detained court, El Paso SPC, is at 8915 Montana Ave., Suite 100, El Paso, TX 79925.
Were any of the new judges assigned to El Paso SPC?
No. The EOIR biographies of all ten judges name the El Paso Immigration Court, not El Paso SPC.
Does the El Paso Immigration Court hear detained cases?
EOIR's Administrative Control list, updated September 28, 2026, lists the Reeves County Detention Center, the El Paso DHS District Office, the Paso del Norte Port of Entry and the El Paso Sector Centralized Processing Center under the El Paso Immigration Court.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Court details can change; confirm them with EOIR (opens in new tab) and consult a qualified attorney about your situation.
If you have a case at the El Paso Immigration Court, a lawyer can review your notices and deadlines. Carlos Maury, a former U.S. Immigration Judge, leads Carlos Maury Law. To talk about your case, call (213) 769-0050. We speak Spanish.
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