Houston - South Gessner Road Immigration Court
Court Announcements
- Internet-Based Hearings Access Information
- Operational Status Information
- Administrative Control List
- More Court Information
About the Court
The Houston - S. Gessner Road Immigration Court falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, which is a component of the Executive Office for Immigration Review under the Department of Justice.
Contact the Court
Address
8701 S. Gessner Road, 10th Floor
Houston, TX 77074
Hours
- Court Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Window Filing Hours: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone
713-995-3900
The immigration court does not accept faxes, unless immigration court staff or the immigration judge specifically requests one. Unauthorized transmissions are not made part of the record and are discarded without consideration of the document or notice to the sender. Further, the only electronic submissions permitted are EOIR-28 forms, unless such transmission is specifically requested. Immigration Court Practice Manual, 3.1(a)(vii).
Parking/Transit
Building Access and Security Screening Process
Assistant Chief Immigration Judge*
Noelle Sharp - in person every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; internet-based every Thursday and Friday.
Staff Assistant or Alternate POC
Nicole Wilson
571-419-3634
Court Administrator
Troy Ledbetter
713-995-3908
Troy.Ledbetter@usdoj.gov
Immigration Judges
- Kevin L. Brown
- Clerk: Shauntal Holmes
713-995-3940
- Clerk: Shauntal Holmes
- Miguel A. Cordero-Gonzalez
- Clerk: Joanna Marquez
713-995-3922
- Clerk: Joanna Marquez
- Geoffrey Hoffman
- Clerk: Shirley Davis
713-995-3945
- Clerk: Shirley Davis
- Arkesia S. Jenkins-Dargan
- Clerk: Aja Lynch
713-995-3924
- Clerk: Aja Lynch
- DeLana M. Jones
- Clerk: Clarissa Cross
713-995-3946
- Clerk: Clarissa Cross
- Jacquelyn Jo Joyce
- Clerk: Vaneesha Onubogu
713-995-3943
- Clerk: Vaneesha Onubogu
- David Paxton
- Clerk: Tiffany Nelson
713-995-3936
- Clerk: Tiffany Nelson
- Christopher M. Schumann
- Clerk: Brian Goodman
713-995-3946
- Clerk: Brian Goodman
- Kenley J. Thompson
- Clerk: Vanessa McDonald
713-995-3925
- Clerk: Vanessa McDonald
- Clarease Rankin Yates
- Clerk: Bruce Flanders.
713-995-3906
- Clerk: Bruce Flanders.
Supervisory Legal Administrative Specialists
Samira Moghadam
713-650-7855
Casandra Trujillo
713-995-3948
Legal Assistants
Rebecca Hucker
713-995-3922
Terry Mason
713-995-3944
Angelica M. Quiroga
713-995-3909
Jessica Perez de Romero
713-995-3921
Stephanie Romero
713-995-3932
Yvette Sanchez
713-995-3929
Shang Sun
713-995-3920
Support Services Specialist
N/A
*Backup Assistant Chief Immigration Judge: Jaime Diaz
Immigration Court Procedures
For information regarding procedures for practice before the immigration courts, please review the Immigration Court Practice Manual.
Helpful Links and Information
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are therefore separate from the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). For more information about those DHS offices, please see the following links:
- USCIS Asylum Office
- USCIS field office
- ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office
- ICE Office of the Chief Counsel
News Media/Congressional Inquiries
News media and congressional inquiries regarding the immigration court must be directed to the EOIR Communications and Legislative Affairs Division (CLAD):
Communications and Legislative Affairs Division
5107 Leesburg Pike, Suite 1800
Falls Church, VA 22041
703-305-0289 (phone)
PAO.EOIR@usdoj.gov
Holidays and Emergencies
The immigration court is open Monday to Friday except for federal holidays. The Office of Personnel Management publishes a list of the observed dates of every federal holiday by year online at this link: OPM holidays. Additionally, the court may have to unexpectedly close due to inclement weather or another emergency. When necessary, information on immigration court closures or changes to the immigration court’s operating hours is available at the following links: (1) Twitter and (2) Facebook.
eRegistry
Attorneys and accredited representatives are required to register with EOIR in order to represent respondents in immigration court. More information is available at the following link: eRegistry Validation Process.
Legal Self-Help Center
The EOIR, Office of Legal Access Programs has created numerous self-help materials with many helpful resources for respondents, including information on what to do if respondents have moved or missed a hearing.
Notarios
EOIR warns respondents about immigration fraud perpetrated by notarios who claim to provide legal assistance but are unable to represent respondents in immigration court, provide legal services, or give legal advice. For more information, please see the following document:
- Fact Sheet, “EOIR’s Programs to Fight Fraud, Abuse, and Ineffective Representation in Immigration Proceedings” (March 2016).
Appeals
Immigration court decisions are first appealable to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Instructions on how to file an appeal and the Appeals Form EOIR-26, Notice of Appeal from a Decision of an Immigration Judge, are available online in the E-26 and appeal instructions. The BIA website contains more information on the appeals process and procedure.
Virtual Law Library
The EOIR Virtual Law Library (VLL) contains many other legal resources and country conditions research resources as well as other reference materials.
Observing Court
Generally, immigration court proceedings are open to the public. An overview of when immigration court hearings might be closed as well as general guidelines for behavior when observing immigration court hearings are available at the following link: Observing Immigration Court Hearings. Note, the use of electronic devices, including audio/visual recordings of hearings and taking photographs, is prohibited in immigration court.