The National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) represents over 700 United States Immigration Judges who preside over 70 courts nationwide. The judges preside over removal proceedings trials initiated by the Department of Homeland Security. NAIJ is responsible for grievances, collective bargaining, and advocating court reforms.
The first Trump administration claimed that the judges are ‘managers’ not entitled to union representation.
The Honorable Judge Mimi Tsankov is President of the NAIJ.
Judge Tsankov has impeccable credentials.
* 1986- B.A. from James Madison University;
* 1990- M.A. in Foreign Affairs from University of Virginia, Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics;
* 1990 Juris Doctorate from University of Virginia School of Law;
* Member Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and New York bars;
* 1990 to 1992, private practice in Washington, D.C.;
* 1992- 1994, Peace Corps, Office of Inspector General attorney advisor;
* 1994- 1995. Immigration and Naturalization Service asylum officer;
* 1997- 1998, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York Special Assistant U.S. Attorney;
* 1995- 1998, New York Immigration and Naturalization Service assistant district counsel;
* 1999- 2006, private sector and private practice;
* 2006 to today, she has been an Immigration Judge in New York, Colorado, and California.
Judge Tsankov serves on the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association; is Vice President for Publications at the National Association of Women Judges; Secretary to the American Bar Association and is ABA representative to the United Nations Department of Global Communications; and is on the National Conference of Administrative Law Judiciary.
In the past she has taught at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law.
Judge Tsankov has authored academic law journal articles and teaches International Law and Justice at Fordham Law School.
As president of the NAIJ, Judge Tsankov will deal with challenges faced by immigration judges such as the attack on due process rights, inadequate court resources, and most of all outside political interference.
Sources
https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2024/12/immigration-judges-seek-renewed-union-recognition/401664/
https://trac.syr.edu/immigration/reports/judge2023/00291NYD/index.html
https://www.fordham.edu/school-of-law/faculty/directory/adjunct/mimi-tsankov/
https://www.naij-usa.org/about/officers
https://www.fedbar.org/directory/hon-mimi-emma-tsankov/
https://www.pli.edu/faculty/hon.-mimi-tsankov-i1348659
https://www.ifpte.org/news/judge-mimi-tsankov-testifies-on-capitol-hill
Thanks and a tip of the hat to IFPTE for the image.
