South Texas Immigration Judges

San Antonio Immigration Court

San Antonio Immigration Court is one of the busiest courts in the state of Texas. The judges out of San Antonio hear non-detained cases in San Antonio and detained cases out of the following detention centers: South Texas Detention Center in Pearsall, Texas; Laredo; Karnes Detention Center; Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas, and the Jack Harwell Detention Center in Waco, Texas.

Assistant Chief of Immigration – Judge Deepali Nadkarni

Judge Nadkarni became the Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for this region in 2013. Judge Nadkarni oversees the immigration courts in San Antonio, Pearsall, Hutto, Karnes, Harlingen, and Port Isabel.

Judge Margaret D. Burkhart

Previously served as immigration judge in Harlingen, Texas primarily focusing on juvenile docket.

Judge Gary D. Burkholder

Immigration judge in San Antonio. Hears detained and non-detained cases.

Judge John D. Cart

Previously a government attorney. Hears detained and non-detained cases.

Judge Thomas G. Crossan, Jr.

Previously a government attorney. Hears detained cases out of Pearsall, Texas.

Judge Craig Harlow

Immigration judge in Pearsall, Texas.

Judge Anibal D. Martinez –

Appointed in August 2010. Formerly a deputy chief counsel for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Judge Glen P. McPhau

Immigration Judge in San Antonio, Texas.

Judge Daniel J. Santander –

Immigration Judge in Pearsall, Texas.

Judge Bertha A. Zuniga –

Immigration Judge in San Antonio, Texas.

Port Isabel Immigration Court

The Port Isabel Immigration court is physically located inside of the Port Isabel Detention Center. This detention center is one of the biggest detention centers in the country. Many of the detainees here are immigrants who have recently entered the country and are awaiting credible fear interviews for their asylum claims. In addition, this detention center houses lawful permanent residents with criminal histories – many of whom are eligible for cancellation of removal. The detention center is located in Bayview, Texas. The address is outside of Los Fresnos, Texas, but the other closest immigration court is in Harlingen, Texas.

Judge Keith E. Hunsucker

Appointed in August 2010. Former Department of Homeland Security attorney. Previously worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Judge Robert Powell

Appointed in August 2010. Former administrative judge for EEOC. Also served as an attorney for U.S. Department of the Army.

Harlingen Immigration Court

The Harlingen immigration court hears primarily non-detained cases. However, several of the judges have a regular part-time schedule doing detained cases where the respondent is detained at the Port Isabel Detention Center.

Judge David Ayala

Previously worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Hears mostly non-detained cases in Harlingen, Texas. 

Eleazar Tovar

Previously worked for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Hears mostly detained cases out of Port Isabel, Texas. 

Howard Achstam

Hears mostly detained cases out of Port Isabel, Texas.