The Honorable Immigration Judge Christopher Cusmano
New York — Federal Plaza, NY Immigration Court
Appointed March 2026 · President Donald Trump → Attorney General Pamela Bondi
Less than a year on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Republican administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Christopher Cusmano earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 from American University and a Juris Doctor in 2009 from Columbia Law School. From September 2024 to February 2026, he was an assistant chief counsel with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in New York. From October 2022 to September 2024, he served as a senior attorney for the Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office. From February 2019 to October 2022, he served as an assistant state attorney with the Office of the State Attorney, 18th Judicial Circuit, in Florida. From July 2011 to September 2017, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, and from January 2010 to April 2011 he was a litigation associate at an international law firm in New York. Judge Cusmano is a member of the Florida Bar and New York State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
59
Completions per year
293 total
1.7%
Detained at decision
share of cases
25.5 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
30.8%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
8.5%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 0 appeals — too few
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
| Asylum | |
0%⚠ |
47 decisions Too few cases |
| Withholding / CAT | |
0% |
82 decisions Moderate |
| Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR) | |
0%⚠ |
4 decisions Too few cases |
| Cancellation — 42A (LPR) | |
0%⚠ |
1 decision Too few cases |
| Adjustment of status (245) | |
100%⚠ |
4 decisions Too few cases |
| Voluntary departure | |
100%⚠ |
2 decisions Too few cases |
0%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 47 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyer⚠represented · 36 decisions since 2021
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 11 decisions since 2021
Courts where this judge has decided cases
Hearing locations for cases this judge completed since 2021, by number of decisions.
Many judges hear cases from more than one court (detained facilities, video dockets, or reassignments).