EOIR Swears in Eight Immigration Judges

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) today announced the investiture of eight immigration judges. Acting Chief Immigration Judge Print Maggard presided over the investiture during a ceremony held March 11, 2016, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C.

After a thorough application process, Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Raisa Cohen, Evalyn P. Douchy, D’Anna H. Freeman, Rebecca B. Jamil, Elise M. Manuel, R. Reid McKee, Vernon B. Miles, and Morris I. Onyewuchi to their new positions.

“We are pleased to welcome these appointees to the immigration judge corps,” said Maggard. “We look forward to continuing to hire more qualified people to fill these important positions in public service.”

Biographical information follows.

Raisa Cohen, Immigration Judge, New York City Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Raisa Cohen to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Cohen earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2002 from Baruch College, City University of New York Zicklin School of Business, and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from St. John’s University School of Law. From September 2015 to February 2016, and previously from April 2009 to September 2014, Judge Cohen served as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in New York. From October 2014 to September 2015, Judge Cohen was an attorney at Cohen & Cohen Law Group PC, in New York. From 2007 through 2009, Judge Cohen was an immigration attorney at the Law Firm of Ted Sofer, in New York. Judge Cohen is a member of the New York State Bar.

Evalyn P. Douchy, Immigration Judge, New York City Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Evalyn P. Douchy to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Douchy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992 from Binghamton University and a Juris Doctor in 1995 from New York Law School. From 1997 to February 2016, she served as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in New York. From 1996 through 1997, she was an associate at the Law Offices of Anil Jethmalani & Timothy Herrick, in New York. From 1995 through 1996, she was a lawyer at the Law Office of Mark S. Drucker in Jackson Heights, N.Y. Judge Douchy is a member of the New York State Bar.

D’Anna H. Freeman, Immigration Judge, Pearsall Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge D’Anna H. Freeman to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Freeman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1988 from Baylor University, a Master of Public Health in 1995 from the University of Texas Health Science Center, and Juris Doctor in 2004 from the University of Houston Law Center. From 2007 to February 2016, Judge Freeman served in various capacities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including: as assistant chief counsel from 2013 to 2016, in Dallas; as senior attorney from 2010 through 2013, in Livingston, Texas; and as assistant chief counsel from 2007 through 2010, in Eloy, Ariz. From 2006 through 2007, she was a partner at Forrest & Harrison LLC, in Houston. From 2005 through 2006, she served as an attorney at Dunbar, Harden & Benson LLP, in Houston. From 2004 through 2005, she operated the Law Office of D’Anna Harrison, in Houston. Judge Freeman is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

Rebecca B. Jamil, Immigration Judge, San Francisco Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Rebecca B. Jamil to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Jamil earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998 from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor in 2006 from the University of Washington Law School. From 2011 to February 2016, Judge Jamil served as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in San Francisco. From 2006 to 2011, she served as staff attorney in the Research Unit, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in San Francisco. Judge Jamil is a member of the Washington State Bar.

Elise M. Manuel, Immigration Judge, Newark Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Elise M. Manuel to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Manuel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983 from Northwestern University and a Juris Doctor in 1987 from Georgetown University Law Center. From 1991 to February 2016, Judge Manuel served in various capacities on the Board of Immigration Appeals, Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Department of Justice, including: as a temporary board member from 2012 to 2016; as an attorney-advisor from 2008 through 2012, from 1998 through 2005, and 1991 through 1995; as a team leader from 2005 through 2008; and as a senior panel attorney from 1995 through 1998. From 1987 through 1991, she was a staff attorney for the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago. Judge Manuel is a member of the Illinois State Bar.

R. Reid McKee, Immigration Judge, Pearsall Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge R. Reid McKee to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge McKee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997 from the University of Alabama, a Master of Arts in Social Sciences in 1998 from the University of Chicago, and a Juris Doctor in 2003 from the University of Mississippi School of Law. From 2010 to February 2016, Judge McKee served as assistant chief counsel for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. From 2009 through 2010, he was the manager of R. Reid McKee PLLC, in Madison, Miss. From 2003 through 2009, he was an associate at Watkins and Eager PLLC, in Jackson, Miss. Judge McKee is a member of the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars.

Vernon B. Miles, Immigration Judge, San Antonio Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Vernon B. Miles to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Miles earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1980 from the University of Mississippi, a Juris Doctor in 1983 from Howard University School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in 1992 from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s School. From 1995 to February 2016, Judge Miles served in various capacities for the U.S. Department of Justice, including: as a trial attorney in the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, Criminal Division, from 2014 to February 2016, in Washington, D.C.; as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney from 2003 through 2014, in San Juan, Puerto Rico; as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Office of the U.S. Attorney from 1998 through 2003, in Oxford, Miss.; and as a civil appellate trial attorney in the Office of Immigration Litigation from 1995 through 1998, in Washington, D.C. From 1985 through 1994, he served in various capacities in the U.S. Marine Corps, including: as assistant officer-in-charge, defense attorney and prosecuting attorney in the Naval Legal Service Office Detachment from 1992 through 1994, in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; as deputy staff judge advocate, chief defense counsel and chief legal assistance officer in the 3d Force Service Support Group from 1989 through 1991, in Okinawa, Japan; and as prosecuting attorney, defense attorney and chief legal assistance attorney in the 2d Force Service Support Group from 1985 through 1989, in Cherry Point, N.C. From 1983 to 1985, he served in various capacities for the North Mississippi Rural Legal Services, including as managing attorney and staff attorney. Judge Miles is a member of the Mississippi Bar.

Morris I. Onyewuchi, Immigration Judge, Port Isabel Immigration Court

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Judge Morris I. Onyewuchi to begin hearing cases in March 2016. Judge Onyewuchi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1990 from Georgia State University, a Juris Doctor in 2002 from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern University, and a Master of Studies in International Human Rights Law in 2010 from the University of Oxford in Oxford, U.K. From 2002 to February 2016, Judge Onyewuchi served as assistant chief counsel and trial attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Judge Onyewuchi is a member of the State Bar of Texas.

- EOIR -

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is an agency within the Department of Justice. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals interpret and adjudicate immigration cases according to United States immigration laws. EOIR's immigration judges conduct administrative court proceedings in immigration courts located throughout the nation. They determine whether foreign-born individuals—whom the Department of Homeland Security charges with violating immigration law—should be ordered removed from the United States or should be granted relief from removal and be permitted to remain in this country. The Board of Immigration Appeals primarily reviews appeals of decisions by immigration judges. EOIR's Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer adjudicates immigration-related employment cases. EOIR is committed to ensuring fairness in all of the cases it adjudicates.