Mary Cheng

Mary Cheng was appointed as EOIR Acting Director in March 2024 after having served as EOIR Deputy Director since April 2022. Director Cheng received a Bachelor of Arts in 1993 from New York University and a Juris Doctor in 1997 from New York Law School.

Director Cheng brings to the Director position a tremendous amount of immigration and leadership experience. From April 2021 to April 2022, she served as a Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judge for the Eastern Region. From March 2017 to April 2021, she served as a Deputy Chief Immigration Judge, and during this time, from August 2020 to February 2021, she also served as Acting Principal Deputy Chief Immigration Judge. From November 2015 to March 2017, she served as an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge in New York. From April 2009 to November 2015, she served as an Immigration Judge at the New York City Immigration Court. From March 2003 to April 2009, Director Cheng served as an Assistant Chief Counsel for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security in New York. From June 2002 to March 2003, she worked as an Assistant District Counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in New York. From August 2000 to May 2002, she was in private practice in New York and, during this time, from June 2001 to June 2002, she also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the New York City Department of Finance. From September 1998 to July 2000, she worked as an Assistant District Counsel for the former INS in New York. From September 1997 to September 1998, she worked as a Judicial Law Clerk at the New York City Immigration Court, entering on duty through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. Director Cheng is a member of the New York State Bar.