Appellate Immigration Judge, Board of Immigration Appeals
Attorney General William P. Barr appointed Philip J. Montante, Jr. as a member of the Board of Immigration Appeals in April 2020. Judge Montante comes to the Board of Immigration Appeals after serving as an Immigration Judge since 1990, when he was initially appointed by former Attorney General Richard L. Thornburgh. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1966 from Drake College, a Master of Education in 1967 from Florida Atlantic University, and a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1971 from Samford University. From March 2019 to April 2020, he served as an assistant chief immigration judge, based in Buffalo, New York. From March 2018 to March 2019, he was an Immigration Judge in Buffalo and Batavia; from July 2016 to March 2018, an Immigration Judge in Orlando; from August 1997 to July 2016, an Immigration Judge in Buffalo; and from April 1990 to August 1997, an Immigration Judge in Miami. From 1975 to 1990, Judge Montante was in private practice. During this time, in 1989, Judge Montante was certified by the Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court as a circuit court mediator. From 1975 to 1976, he served as a special assistant attorney general and in 1976, was appointed as a chief municipal court judge in Broward County, Florida. From 1971 to 1975, he held various positions in the state attorney’s office for the 17th judicial circuit of Florida, including prosecutor, chief assistant state attorney, and assistant state attorney. From 1975-1979, Judge Montante was appointed by the Governor of the State of Florida to a four-year term as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission, first as secretary and then as Chairman. From 1983-1985, he was Chairman of the Florida Bar Grievance Committee 17 (C) 1983. He served as a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships from 2018 to 2021 and likewise was a member of the President’s Commission from 2001 to 2007. Judge Montante is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Florida Bar, and the New York State Bar.
Adapted from EOIR’s published biography of this member, read August 8, 2026.