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Procedures

Immigration court in Georgia — guide for immigrants in proceedings

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

Immigration courts in Georgia

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 Georgia (real EOIR data)

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

Stewart (Lumpkin) Immigration Court

Address: 146 CCA Road

City: Lumpkin, GA 31815

Phone: 229-838-1324

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 Georgia

See: Legal aid in Georgia


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 Georgia 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.

Atlanta - Ted Turner Drive Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Joy Lampley-Fortson (CLF)Join hearing199 348 6193
James Crofts (JCR)Join hearing199 265 5859
Andrew Hewitt (AWH)Join hearing2763 235 3555
Kyle Pearson (KYP)Join hearing2819 911 3404
Jonathan Daniel Pelletier (DAP)Join hearing2818 045 4003
Kelley Sydnor (KFL)Join hearing199 192 9503
Daniel J. WrightJoin hearing2829 644 4790

Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
IJ Philip P. TaylorJoin hearing265 679 275
ACIJ Joy Lampley-Fortson (CLF)Join hearing199 348 6193
Jennifer R. Bell (JRB)Join hearing2764 926 5311
Ghunise L. Coaxum (GEC)Join hearing2762 179 2445
Blake Doughty (BDG)Join hearing358 185 364
Ryan Fisher (RNF)Join hearing604 163 283
Benedict S. Gullo
Amy F. Haer (AFH)Join hearing2761 531 8225
Melissa L. Isaak (MLL)Join hearing2829 780 4219
Kimberly B. Jeter
Njeri Maldonado (NBM)Join hearing199 741 5728
Robert A. McBrideJoin hearing2829 072 3225
Suzette Smikle (SES)Join hearing2762 790 9680
Kevin D. Stroberg (KES)Join hearing2831 692 2787
Winfield Murray (WWM)Join hearing2762 929 3458

Stewart Immigration Court

Judge NameInternet-Based Hearing LinkAccess Code (Telephonic)*
ACIJ Joy Lampley-Fortson (CLF)Join hearing199 348 6193
Bianca Brown (BHB)Join hearing199 043 5118
Steven Fuller (SBF)Join hearing199 628 8284
Jerrica Harness (JEH)Join hearing2828 863 6859

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 Georgia

3 locations/organizations on record in Georgia. Always verify directly before visiting.

  • Atlanta - Ted Turner Drive Immigration Court
  • Atlanta - W. Peachtree Street Immigration Court
  • Stewart Immigration Court

Frequently asked questions

Where are immigration courts in Georgia?
Georgia is served by these EOIR courts: Atlanta, Stewart Detention Center (Lumpkin). Some may be in neighboring states if Georgia 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 Georgia?
Use AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) directory at ailalawyer.com, or consult nonprofit organizations in Georgia listed at /procedures/legal-aid-by-state/georgia/. NEVER hire someone called ’notario’ — that’s fraud.