Board of Immigration Appeals

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Garry D. Malphrus as the Chief Appellate Immigration Judge in April 2025, a position he held in the acting capacity since January 2025. Judge Malphrus earned a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, in 1989 from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor (Order of the Coif) in 1993 from the University of South Carolina. From January 2025 to March 2025, he served as the Acting Chief Appellate Immigration Judge. From August 2008 to January 2025, he served on the Board of Immigration Appeals, including as a Deputy Chief Appellate Immigration Judge from September 2020 to January 2025 and the acting Chief Appellate Immigration Judge from October 2019 to May 2020. From 2005 to 2008, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Arlington Immigration Court. From 2001 to 2005, he served as associate director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. From 1997 to 2001, he worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary, which included serving as chief counsel and staff director on the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight and the Subcommittee on the Constitution. From 1995 to 1997, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Dennis W. Shedd, U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina. From 1994 to 1995, he was a law clerk for the Honorable William W. Wilkins of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. From 1993 to 1994, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Larry R. Patterson, Circuit Judge for South Carolina. Judge Malphrus is a member of the South Carolina Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Michael P. Baird as an Appellate Immigration Judge in August 2020. Judge Baird earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1989 from Clayton State University and a Juris Doctorate in 1992 from Georgia State University College of Law. From 2009 to 2020, he served as an Immigration Judge first at the Dallas Immigration Court, and then later transferred to the Atlanta Immigration Court. From 2006 to 2009, he served as a senior assistant district attorney in the Appalachian Judicial Circuit, in Georgia. From 2004 to 2006, he served as a judge in the Municipal Court of Jonesboro, Georgia. From 1997 to 2004, he served as Chief Judge for the Magistrate Court of Clayton County, Georgia. From 1995 to 1996, he was in private practice. From 1993 to 1995, he served as senior assistant solicitor general at the Clayton County Solicitor’s Office. From 1992 to 1993, he was in private practice. From 1986 to 1990, he was a police officer. Judge Baird has taught as adjunct faculty at the Georgia State University College of Law, Clayton State University and the University of West Georgia. Judge Baird is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder appointed Michael J. Creppy as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in February 2011. Judge Creppy earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1975 from Fisk University, a Juris Doctorate in 1978 from Howard University School of Law and a Masters of Law in 1979 from Georgetown University Law Center. From April 2006 to February 2011, he served as EOIR’s Chief Administrative Hearing Officer. From May 1994 to April 2006, he served as Chief Immigration Judge, overseeing the numerous immigration courts around the country. Prior to joining EOIR, Judge Creppy worked for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in various capacities: from 1988 to 1994, in the Office of the General Counsel as deputy general counsel for litigation; from 1986 to 1988, as an associate general counsel primarily focusing on the employer sanctions and anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act; and from 1984 to 1986, as chief legal officer for the INS district office in Los Angeles. From 1983 to 1984, he served as a trial attorney with the Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, Department of Justice. From 1981 to 1983, Judge Creppy was a trial attorney for the former INS district office in New York. From 1979 to 1981 he served as a judicial law clerk for the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. Judge Creppy is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Deborah K. Goodwin as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in August 2019. Judge Goodwin earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1986 from Wilson College and a Juris Doctor in 2000 from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. From February 2017 to August 2019, Judge Goodwin served as an Immigration Judge in Miami. From 2015 to January 2017, she served as an associate legal advisor for the District Court Litigation Division, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in the District of Columbia. From 2007 through 2015, she served as an associate counsel for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS, in San Francisco. From 2002 through 2007, she served as an assistant chief counsel for ICE, DHS, and former Immigration and Naturalization Service, in San Francisco. Judge Goodwin is a member of the Florida Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Keith E. Hunsucker as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in August 2019. Judge Hunsucker earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in 1984 from the University of Akron and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, in 1987 from the University of Akron School of Law. From January 2025 to May 2025, he served as the Acting Chief Immigration Judge. From August 2019 to January 2025, Judge Hunsucker served as an Appellate Immigration Judge. From September 2017 to August 2019, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Cleveland Immigration Court and from August 2010 to September 2017, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Port Isabel Immigration Court. From 2000 to August 2010, he worked as a senior instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Legal Division, Department of Homeland Security, in Glynco, Georgia. From 1992 to 2000, he worked as an attorney for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), in Atlanta. From 1989 to 1992, he was an attorney for the former INS in Harlingen, Texas. From April 1989 to September 1989, Judge Hunsucker was a law clerk for the Ohio Court of Appeals, 9th Judicial District. From 1988 to 1989, he was in private practice. From 1987 to 1988, Judge Hunsucker worked as an attorney for the former INS, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program, in San Francisco. Judge Hunsucker is a member of the Ohio State Bar and District of Columbia Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Sunita B. Mahtabfar as an Appellate Immigration Judge in August 2020. Judge Mahtabfar earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1994 from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctorate in 1998 from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. From 2013 to 2020, she served as an Immigration Judge in the El Paso Immigration Court. From 2006 to 2013, she served as an attorney in the Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in El Paso, Texas. From 2003 to 2006, she served as an asylum officer, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS, in Houston. Judge Mahtabfar is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder appointed Ana Landazabal Mann as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in November 2011. Judge Mann earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1982 from Rutgers University and a Juris Doctorate in 1985 from George Washington University. From 1996 to November 2011, Judge Mann served as a senior legal advisor to the Chairman of the BIA, during which time she also served as a temporary Board Member. From 1986 to 1996, Judge Mann was an attorney advisor for the BIA. Judge Mann joined DOJ through the Attorney General’s Honors Program when she clerked at the Drug Enforcement Administration from 1985 until 1986. Judge Mann is a member of the New Jersey State Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Philip J. Montante, Jr. as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in April 2020. Judge Montante comes to the Board of Immigration Appeals after serving as an Immigration Judge since 1990, when he was initially appointed by former Attorney General Richard L. Thornburgh. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1966 from Drake College, a Master of Education in 1967 from Florida Atlantic University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1971 from Samford University. From March 2019 to April 2020, he served as an assistant chief immigration judge, based in Buffalo, New York. From March 2018 to March 2019, he was an Immigration Judge in Buffalo and Batavia; from July 2016 to March 2018, an Immigration Judge in Orlando; from August 1997 to July 2016, an Immigration Judge in Buffalo; and from April 1990 to August 1997, an Immigration Judge in Miami. From 1975 to 1990, Judge Montante was in private practice. During this time, in 1989, Judge Montante was certified by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit court mediator. From 1975 to 1976, he served as a special assistant attorney general and in 1976, was appointed as a chief municipal court judge in Broward County, Florida. From 1971 to 1975, he held various positions in the state attorney’s office for the 17th judicial circuit of Florida, including prosecutor, chief assistant state attorney, and assistant state attorney. From 1975-1979, Judge Montante was appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida to a four-year term as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, first as secretary and then as Chairman. From 1983-1985, he was Chairman of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee 17 (C) 1983. He served as a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships from 2018 to 2021 and likewise was a member of the President’s Commission from 2001 to 2007. Judge Montante is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Florida Bar, and the New York State Bar.

Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey appointed Hugh Mullane as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in August 2008.  Judge Mullane earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1989 from Siena College and a Juris Doctorate in 1993 from Georgetown University Law Center. From 2005 to 2008, he served as special counsel, Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2004 to 2005, he worked as the Director of Immigration Security for the Homeland Security Council at the White House. From 1995 to 2004, he served as a senior litigation counsel, Civil Division, DOJ. From 1994 to 1995, Judge Mullane was an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission. From 1993 to 1994, he was a law clerk for the Honorable David G. Larimer, U.S. District Judge for the Western District of New York.  Judge Mullane is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the New York State Bar.

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Sirce E. Owen as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in August 2020. Judge Owen earned a Bachelor of Science in 1996 from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Business Administration in 2002 from Georgia State University, and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from Georgia State University. From 2018 to 2020, she served as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, based in Atlanta. From June 2019 to January 2020, she served as acting Deputy Director of EOIR. From 2016 to 2018, she served as deputy chief counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Atlanta. From 2008 to 2016, she served as assistant chief counsel, ICE, DHS, in Atlanta. From 2005 to 2008, she was an associate attorney with Mozley, Finlayson & Loggins LLP, in Atlanta. Judge Owen is a member of the State Bar of Georgia.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Jankhana Desai as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge in June 2025. Judge Desai earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master of Arts in Communications from the California State University, Fullerton. Under the Berkeley-Harvard Law Degree Program, Judge Desai earned a Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, and completed her third year at Harvard Law School. From December 2017 to June 2025, she served as an Immigration Judge at the Los Angeles – West Los Angeles Immigration Court, formerly known as the Los Angeles – Olive Street Immigration Court. From 2015 to 2017, she served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York State Department of Health, in New York. From 2011 to 2013, she served as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California, Office of Administrative Hearings, in Los Angeles. From 2011 to 2012, Judge Desai served as an adjunct professor of law at the Western State College of Law, in Fullerton, California, and from 2010 to 2011, as an Administrative Law Judge pro tem for the State of California, Office of Administrative Hearings, in Los Angeles. From 2005 to 2009, she served as a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. Judge Desai is a member of the California, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York State Bars.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Marcos Gemoets as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge in June 2025. Judge Gemoets earned a Bachelor of Science in 1999 from Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from St. Mary’s School of Law. From August 2017 to June 2025, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Houston – Jefferson Street Immigration Court, formerly known as the Houston – Smith Street Immigration Court, and during this time, from February 2020 to January 2021, he served as a temporary Appellate Immigration Judge. From 2011 to 2017, he was an attorney at the Law Office of Marcos Gemoets PC, in Houston. From 2007 to 2011, he was in private practice in Chicago. From 2006 to 2007, he was a senior policy analyst for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. From 2003 to 2006, he was an attorney, then director of immigration services, for the Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of San Antonio. In 2003, he was in private practice, also in San Antonio. Judge Gemoets is a member of the Texas State Bar.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed John M. Gillies as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge in June 2025. Judge Gillies earned a Bachelor of Science in 1984 and a Juris Doctor in 1991, both from the University of Florida. From February 2018 to June 2025, he served as an Immigration Judge first at the Atlanta -W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court and then at the Sterling Immigration Court. From 2009 to 2018, he worked for the Office of International Affairs (OIA), Criminal Division (CRM), Department of Justice (DOJ), serving originally on detail from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) as a trial attorney (2009-2013); acting associate director (2013-2014); and OIA associate director (2014-2018), in Washington, D.C. From 2008 to 2009, he served as a trial attorney for the Narcotic Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), CRM, DOJ, in Washington, D.C. From 2006 to 2008, he worked for the Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, DOJ, serving as counsel to the assistant attorney general from 2006 to 2007, and chief of staff from 2007 to 2008. From 2005 to 2006, he worked at NDDS, CRM, DOJ, serving as a trial attorney from 2005 to 2006, and assistant deputy chief for litigation in 2006, in Washington, D.C. From 2003 to 2005, he served as chief legal counsel for the Office of the Honorable Saxby Chambliss, U.S. Senate, also in Washington, D.C. From 2001 to 2003, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nevada, in Las Vegas. From 1998 to 2001, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Georgia, in Albany, Georgia. From 1997 to 1998, he was an associate at Melton H. Little PA, in Bradenton, Florida. From 1995 to 1997, he served as an assistant state attorney for the Office of the State Attorney, Florida Twelfth Judicial Circuit, in Arcadia, Sarasota, and Venice, Florida. From 1992 to 1995, he was an associate at Holland & Knight LLP, in Fort Lauderdale and Tallahassee, Florida. From 1991 to 1992, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Gerald Bard Tjoflat, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, in Jacksonville, Florida. Judge Gillies is a member of the Florida Bar and the State Bar of Georgia.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Sarah B. Mazzie as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge. Judge Mazzie earned a Bachelor of Science in 2002 from The University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, in 2006 from the DePaul University College of Law. From April 2018 to June 2025, she served as an Immigration Judge at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court, and from 2017 to March 2018, she served as an Immigration Judge at the Miami Krome Immigration Court. From 2014 to March 2017, she served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and from 2011 to 2014 in Lumpkin, Georgia. From 2008 through 2011, Judge Mazzie was a partner at Gennerman, Mazzie-Briscoe Law Group in Madison, Wisconsin, and from 2007 to 2008, she was an associate attorney with Sipsma, Hahn & Brophy in Madison, Wisconsin. From 2006 through 2007, she was an immigration attorney for the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Judge Mazzie is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Paul A. McCloskey as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge in June 2025. Judge McCloskey earned a Bachelor of Science in 1996 from Towson State University and a Juris Doctor in 1999 from the University of Maryland School of Law. From 2022 to June 2025, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Annandale Immigration Court, and from 2018 to 2022, he served as an Immigration Judge at the Arlington Immigration Court. From 2002 to 2018, he served in several positions with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Washington, D.C. From 2016 to 2018, he was an associate deputy principal legal advisor for Field Legal Operations. From 2014 to 2016, he was deputy chief of the Criminal Law Section. From 2010 to 2014, he was an associate legal advisor in the Criminal Law Section. From 2008 to 2010, he was an associate legal advisor in the Enforcement Law Division, serving on a detail as a trial attorney in the Domestic Security Section, Criminal Division, Department of Justice. From 2002 to 2008, he was an assistant chief counsel in Baltimore and New Orleans. From 2001 to 2002, he was a senior immigration officer in the Office of Congressional Relations with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in Washington, D.C. From 1999 to 2001, he was a presidential management intern with INS in Washington, D.C. Judge McCloskey is a member of the Maryland State Bar.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Dara F. Reid as a Temporary Appellate Immigration Judge in June 2025. Judge Reid earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor in 2004 from the Hofstra University School of Law. From 2020 to June 2025, she served as an Immigration Judge at the New York – Varick Immigration Court. From 2006 to 2020, she served as an assistant chief counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in New York. From 2005 to 2006, she served as a staff attorney in the immigration unit with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York. From 2004 to 2005, she was a judicial law clerk, and later an attorney advisor for the Executive Office for Immigration Review, Department of Justice, in Newark, New Jersey, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge Reid is a member of the New York State Bar.