# Drew T. Nishiyama Immigration Judge · [Seattle Immigration Court](/kyj/court/wa/seattle-immigration-court) Last updated October 7, 2026 ## Drew T. Nishiyama at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [Seattle Immigration Court](/kyj/court/wa/seattle-immigration-court) Jurisdiction Washington · Federal Judicial service Active Historical EOIR data ## Outcomes at a glance Total outcomes 240 Relief granted 11 4.6% Denied / removal ordered 192 80.0% Other / procedural 37 15.4% National comparison for this selection: 9,249,024 outcomes; 10.0% relief granted; 52.0% denied / removal ordered; 38.0% other / procedural. Methodology and sources These are proceeding outcomes, not asylum application statistics. Completion years use EOIR COMP_DATE; 2026 contains partial-year data. Relief granted, denied / removal ordered and other / procedural exhaust the recorded outcomes. Groups of one are included. Historical outcomes do not establish a current assignment. Counts describe recorded cases and do not predict an individual's result. [Official EOIR case data](https://fileshare.eoir.justice.gov/EOIR%20Case%20Data.zip) · Source date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:14:27 GMT ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed in February 2026 under President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi - judge advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserves Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington (2019–January 2026) - U.S. Air Force judge advocate at Keesler AFB (2013–2017), Wisconsin Air National Guard (2017–2019), and U.S. Air Force Reserves JAG Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (2019–2026) - Attorney with Washington State Office of the Attorney General (2020–2024), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2024), and private practice in Bellingham, WA - Leah A. OBrien, Temporary Immigration Judge, San Diego Immigration Court - Immigration Judge assigned to the Seattle Immigration Court in Washington, with prior assignments to the Tacoma Immigration Court - Judge Nishiyama’s grant rates are below both court and national averages for asylum cases - His career spans judicial, military legal, legislative, and private practice roles, giving him broad experience in federal law and policy ### Education - B.A. — Muhlenberg College and a Juris Doctorate in 2009 from University of Missouri School of Law (2002) ### Additional information - Appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in February 2026. - In 2025, he was in private practice in Bellingham, Washington. - JAG with the U.S. Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi (2013–2017) - Trent Franks (AZ) (2010–2013) - From 2010 to 2013, he was a staff member for the Honorable Trent Franks, Arizona. - Congressional staff for Rep. - He also holds a Master of Public Affairs in public policy from the Truman School of Public Affairs. - Personal history includes family ties to the Japanese American internment at Manzanar during WWII, which shaped his commitment to public service and immigration law. - Judge Nishiyama is a member of the State Bar of Washington. ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked October 11, 2026 . ### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 19, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.1 - Delivery and Receipt Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026 ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.3 - Documents ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10 - Interpreters ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11 - Courtroom Decorum ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.12 - Electronic Devices ### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.15 - Individual Calendar Hearing ### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings [Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections) ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.1 — Delivery and Receipt](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c9195b4f0bba01a19aa8df41) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-1). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 3.11 — Courtroom Decorum](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8d8e8e8bf80478864645291a) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-3-11). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.3 — Documents](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-53ee093be24c18a5d1a93046) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-3). Collected 2026-10-27.