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Procedures

Immigration court in California — guide for immigrants in proceedings

Information on immigration courts (EOIR) in California: locations, what to expect at hearing, right to attorney, how to find legal representation.

Immigration courts in California

Immigration Courts are part of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) within Department of Justice. They handle:

  • Removal proceedings (deportation cases)
  • Defensive asylum (when in removal)
  • Cancellation of removal
  • Some USCIS decision appeals
  • Bond hearings (for detained)

Immigration courts in California (real EOIR data)

The following are EOIR (Executive Office for Immigration Review) courts operating in California. Data verified from justice.gov as of 2026-05-25.

Adelanto Immigration Court

Address: 10250 Rancho Road, Suite 201A

City: Adelanto, CA 92301

Phone: 760-561-6500

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Concord Immigration Court

Address: 1855 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 850

City: Concord, CA 94520

Phone: 925-680-9015

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Imperial Immigration Court

Address: 2409 La Brucherie Road

City: Imperial, CA 92251

Phone: 760-370-5200

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Los Angeles - N. Los Angeles Street Immigration Court

Address: 300 North Los Angeles Street, Room 4330

City: Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: 213-576-4701

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Los Angeles - West Immigration Court

Address: 5245 Pacific Concourse Drive

City: Falls Church, VA 22041

Phone: 310-335-2100

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Los Angeles - Van Nuys Boulevard Immigration Court

Address: 6230 Van Nuys Blvd

City: Van Nuys, CA 91401

Phone: 818-904-5200

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Otay Mesa Immigration Court

City: San Diego, CA 92154

Phone: 619-661-5600

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Sacramento Immigration Court

City: Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-447-9301

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


San Diego Immigration Court

Address: 880 Front Street, Suite 4240

City: San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-510-4500

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


San Francisco Immigration Court

Address: 100 Montgomery Street, Suite 800

City: San Francisco, CA 94104

Phone: 415-705-4415

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


Santa Ana Immigration Court

Address: 1241 E. Dyer Road, Suite 200

City: Santa Ana, CA 92705

Phone: 714-481-4900

Official source: justice.gov/eoir


What to expect at first hearing (Master Calendar Hearing)

  1. Arrive early (security takes time)
  2. Bring full file and ID
  3. If no attorney: judge will ask how you’ll proceed. Will give you time (typically 3-12 months) to find legal representation.
  4. If you have attorney: attorney speaks for you in most proceedings.
  5. Don’t speak English without interpreter: you have right to free interpreter (court-provided) if English isn’t your native language.

If detained

  • Visit detained person ASAP: detention center rules apply
  • Pay bond if eligible: court can set bond ($1,500-$50,000+)
  • Find representation immediately: detained cases have shorter deadlines

How to find pro bono or low-cost attorney in California

See: Legal aid in California


Official source: EOIR Immigration Court Listings


Last verified: 2026-05-25.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

Internet-based hearings + telephonic access (EOIR-verified, 2026-05-26)

The following EOIR judges in California publish Webex links for internet-based hearings + telephonic dial-in access codes. Telephonic hearings: dial 1-415-527-5035, then enter the access code for your judge.

Verify before each hearing — links and codes change. Source: justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings.

Adelanto Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Jonathan W. Hitesman (JH1)Join hearing199 414 6418
Patrick Barrett (PDB)Join hearing2763 443 3557
Brent Carr
Bryan DePowell (BDP)Join hearing199 261 5182
Ravit Halperin (RRH)Join hearing199 327 9907
Katie Mullins (KGM)Join hearing2761-794-9030
Curtis White (CGW)Join hearing199 156 1267

Concord Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Julie Nelson (JLN)Join hearing199 628 9309
Lauren M. BlackJoin hearing2820 873 2627
Marlem Nava (MWN)Join hearing2762 589 8017
Shadee M. Star (SMS)Join hearing199 520 7522
Jacob J. Stender (JJS)Join hearing2761 725 1924

Imperial Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Anne Kristina Perry (AKP)Join hearing199 436 3598
Jeffrey Munoz (JVM)Join hearing199 019 1789
Stuart J. Zander (SJZ)Join hearing2827 064 7958

Los Angeles - N. Los Angeles Street Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Kevin Riley (KWR)Join hearing2763 283 2374
Matthew Chan (MWC)Join hearing2763 934 4801
Timothy Everett (TRE)Join hearing199 143 7412
Andrea Hong (AHO)Join hearing199 525 3044
Jaime Jasso (JJO)Join hearing199 017 1145
Nancy Miller (NMR)Join hearing199 636 4252
Rachel Ruane (RAR)Join hearing199 992 7064
Andrea Siebert (ANS)Join hearing2762 200 4994
Taiyyeba S. Skomra (TSS)Join hearing2763 220 6138

Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
RDCIJ Rodin RooyaniJoin hearing199 629 4875
ACIJ Joyce Bakke Varzandeh (JBV)Join hearing199 068 8439
Gabriel Bradley (GAB)Join hearing2826 620 2012
Diana L. Callaghan (DAC)Join hearing2818 285 4575
Amit Chugh (AC2)Join hearing199 855 6207
Audra Behne (ABE)Join hearing199 835 6249
Jankana Desai (JD1)Join hearing199 720 1065
John T. Driscoll (JOD)Join hearing2822 902 9200
Carlos Juelle (CRJ)Join hearing199 988 4428
Daniel Malvin (DHM)Join hearing199 285 6190
Kristopher McDonald(KRM)Join hearing2825 661 3079
Yvan Murad (YEM)Join hearing2829 592 8443
Robert C. O’Neil (RCO)Join hearing2824 710 9801
Bayleigh J. PettigrewJoin hearing2819 654 9376
Curtis Pierce (CFP)Join hearing2762 975 6428
Anita Simons (ALS)Join hearing199 960 1097
Christine Stancill (CES)Join hearing199 123 6467
Veronica Villegas (VSV)Join hearing199 594 0630

Los Angeles - Van Nuys Boulevard Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Kevin Riley (KWR)Join hearing2763 283 2374
Roberto Amaya (ROA)Join hearing2764 239 9581
Jonathan M. Brent (JTB)Join hearing2831 599 4249
Hye Chon (HYC)Join hearing199 016 0213
Arlene E. Dorfman (ARD)Join hearing199 796 7594
Steven Marcus (SNM)Join hearing199 129 7566
Paul Medved (PNM)Join hearing2763 007 6140
Jeannette Park (JPK)Join hearing199 714 2045
Sandra Santos-Garcia (SJS)Join hearing198 671 2074
Joseph Weiner (JAW)Join hearing2760 751 2633

Otay Mesa Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Catherine Halliday-Roberts (CHR)Join hearing199 824 4851
Eugene Robinson (EHR)Join hearing199 779 2876
Mark Sameit (MST)Join hearing2760 074 0858

Sacramento Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Jonathan W. Hitesman (JH1)Join hearing199 414 6418
Vikram Badrinath (VKB)Join hearing2760 738 4883
William David Neumeister (WDN)Join hearing199 691 8838
Susan Phan (SPN)Join hearing199 811 8450

San Diego Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Catherine Halliday-Roberts (CHR)Join hearing199 824 4851
Amelia Anderson (AAN)Join hearing1990 21 4958
Olga Attia (OEA)Join hearing199 836 2707
Samantha Begovich (SAB)Join hearing199 990 1040
Guy Grande (GGG)Join hearing199 192 3879
Leah A. O’Brien (LON)Join hearing2827 823 0536
Jose Penalosa (JPJ)Join hearing199 919 9248
Lindsay W. Pepi (LWP)Join hearing2761 921 8406
Scott Simpson (SS2)Join hearing199 912 7945
Eric WangJoin hearing2818 900 5025

San Francisco Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Julie Nelson (JLN)Join hearing199 628 9309
Steven Kirchner (SMK)Join hearing2764 623 8390
Frank Seminerio (FAS)Join hearing2760 317 9239

Santa Ana Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Jason Waterloo (JWO)Join hearing199 436 5407
Terexa Fan
Darin W. Flagg (DNF)Join hearing2827 215 6764
Andrew Fishkin (AFN)Join hearing2761 165 2209
Leon Francis (LJF)Join hearing199 380 3134
Iman Ghasri (ING)Join hearing2763 441 5922
Howard Hom (HH)Join hearing199 447 7944
Jonathan Huang (JOH)Join hearing2761 557 7494
Lily Hsu (LCH)Join hearing199 249 2835
Wilbur Lee (WRL)Join hearing199 687 3612
Heather Libeu (HRL)Join hearing2762 120 9326
Anita McFadden (AMF)Join hearing2761 057 1147
Joyce Noche (JEN)Join hearing2761 642 2554
Aggie Norregard (AEN)Join hearing2763 770 9363
Kristin Piepmeier (PIE)Join hearing199 972 7091
Gregory Simmons (GSS)Join hearing199 183 3035
Paul Edmond StephanJoin hearing2819 608 8776
Terese Tadros-Ibarra (TTI)Join hearing2762 313 1099
Nathaniel B. Walker (NBW)Join hearing199 431 2957
Nicole I. WellsJoin hearing2827 767 7163

Important: If you don’t have a representative of record, your default hearing medium is in-person regardless of any link above. Photographing or recording an internet-based hearing without permission is prohibited.

EOIR case context (2025-2026)

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) had approximately 3.7 million pending cases in immigration courts as of FY 2024 — the highest in history. Average wait time from Notice to Appear (NTA) issuance to first hearing: 1,200-1,500 days (3-4 years) in most courts; some courts wait 5+ years. EOIR operates 71 immigration courts staffed by 700+ immigration judges, plus the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) which hears appeals.

H.R.1 / OBBBA effective 2026-05-29 introduces fees for some EOIR proceedings: $100 asylum filing fee (Form I-589 — also payable with USCIS for affirmative asylum), $100 Annual Asylum Fee while case pending. The in-absentia removal-order arrest fee was increased from $5,000 under proposed Federal Register rule 2026-10082 (2026-05-20). Verify current fees at justice.gov/eoir before any filing.

The 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) and Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) significantly expanded grounds for removal and restricted relief. Sanchez v. Mayorkas (594 U.S. ___, 2021) restricted TPS-to-LPR adjustment for entry-without-inspection cases. Pereira v. Sessions (138 S. Ct. 2105, 2018) limited use of “stop-time rule” for cancellation of removal.

For court hearing information: 1-800-898-7180 (automated, 24/7, English/Spanish). For internet-based hearings: each judge publishes Webex links via the per-court page above; telephonic access via the EOIR conferencing system requires the access code listed per judge. Always verify your hearing date via the EOIR Automated Case Information system or your attorney — missing a hearing leads to in-absentia removal order, which carries the new arrest fee plus future inadmissibility.

For free representation: BIA-recognized organizations at /procedures/bia-recognized-help-by-state/, AILA pro bono at ailalawyer.com, the National Immigrant Justice Center, RAICES, CLINIC. Detained-case hotlines: ICE Online Detainee Locator at locator.ice.gov/odls; DHS Office for Civil Rights complaints 1-866-644-8360 Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern Time.

Immigration courts in California

11 locations/organizations on record in California. Always verify directly before visiting.

  • Adelanto Immigration Court
  • Concord Immigration Court
  • Imperial Immigration Court
  • Los Angeles - N. Los Angeles Street Immigration Court
  • Los Angeles - West Los Angeles Immigration Court
  • Los Angeles - Van Nuys Boulevard Immigration Court
  • Otay Mesa Immigration Court
  • Sacramento Immigration Court
  • San Diego Immigration Court
  • San Francisco Immigration Court
  • Santa Ana Immigration Court

Frequently asked questions

Where are immigration courts in California?
California is served by these EOIR courts: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Otay Mesa (San Diego), Imperial, Adelanto. Some may be in neighboring states if California doesn’t have its own.
Do I have right to free attorney in immigration court?
NOT automatically. Immigration court is NOT like criminal court — government does NOT assign you free attorney. You must hire one or seek pro bono representation. Organizations like CLINIC, AILA pro bono list, and local nonprofits can help.
How to find immigration attorney in California?
Use AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) directory at ailalawyer.com, or consult nonprofit organizations in California listed at /procedures/legal-aid-by-state/california/. NEVER hire someone called ’notario’ — that’s fraud.