EOIR Swears in Five Immigration Judges

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of five new immigration judges. Acting Chief Immigration Judge Michael C. McGoings presided over the investiture during a ceremony held July 29, 2016, in the ceremonial courtroom of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington, D.C.

After a thorough application process, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Elisa Castrolugo, Samuel B. Cole, Kathryn L. DeAngelis, Lisa Ann J. de Cardona and Eva S. Saltzman to their new positions.

“We are pleased to welcome these five appointees to the immigration judge corps,” said McGoings. “Their arrival brings our immigration judge corps to an all-time high of 277 immigration judges and is another step forward in our efforts to begin reducing our pending caseload of more than 500,000.”

Biographical information follows.

Elisa Castrolugo, Immigration Judge, Houston Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Elisa Castrolugo to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge Castrolugo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor in 2003 from the Columbia University School of Law. From 2010 to July 2016, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2005 through 2010, she served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District of Michigan, U.S. Attorney’s Office, DOJ, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. From 2003 through 2005, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Andrew W. Austin, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas. From 1995 through 1999, she served as a staff sergeant for the 147^th Medical Squadron, Texas Air National Guard. From 1991 through 1995, she served as a senior airman for the 963^rd Airborne Air Control Squadron, U.S. Air Force. Judge Castrolugo is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Samuel B. Cole, Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Samuel B. Cole to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge Cole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from Rice University and a Juris Doctor in 1998 from the Harvard Law School. From 2003 to July 2016, he served as an assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Department of Justice, in Chicago. From 1999 through 2003, he served as an associate attorney for McDermott, Will & Emery, in Chicago. Judge Cole is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

Kathryn L. DeAngelis, Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Kathryn L. DeAngelis to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge DeAngelis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1997 from Southampton College, a Master of Science degree in 2000 from the University of Hawaii, and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from the University of Arizona. From 2006 to July 2016, she served as a trial attorney for the Office of Immigration Litigation, Civil Division, Department of Justice. Judge DeAngelis is a member of the State Bar of California.

Lisa Ann J. de Cardona, Immigration Judge, Philadelphia Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Lisa Ann J. de Cardona to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge de Cardona earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from St. Joseph’s University and a Juris Doctor in 1990 from the Widener University School of Law. From 2013 to May 2016, she served as associate program director for the Office of Legal Access Programs, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2012 through 2013, and previously from 2002 through 2007 and 1991 through 1998, she served as an attorney advisor for the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), EOIR, DOJ. From 2007 through 2011, she served as a supervisory attorney advisor for the BIA. From 1990 through 1991, she served as a law clerk for the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, EOIR, DOJ, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Judge de Cardona is a member of the New Jersey State and Pennsylvania Bars.

Eva S. Saltzman, Immigration Judge, Newark Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Eva S. Saltzman to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge Saltzman earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctor in 2002 from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. From 2006 to July 2016, she served as a supervisory staff attorney for the Staff Attorney’s Office, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in New York. From 2005 through 2006, she served as an associate attorney for Wildes, Weinberg, Grunblatt & Wildes PC, in New York. From 2002 through 2005, she served as an associate attorney for Avirom & Associates LLP, in New York.  Judge Saltzman is a member of the Connecticut, District of Columbia, and New York State Bars.