# Joseph Kassell

Immigration Judge · [Richmond Immigration Adjudication Center](/kyj/court/va/eoir-virginia-richmond-immigration-adjudication-center)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Joseph Kassell at a glance

Current role

Immigration Judge

Court

[Richmond Immigration Adjudication Center](/kyj/court/va/eoir-virginia-richmond-immigration-adjudication-center)

Jurisdiction

Virginia · Federal

Judicial service

Active

## Immigration proceeding outcomes

No proceeding outcomes in this EOIR release are matched to this profile. Any separately published asylum statistics are available below.

Asylum decisions and other statistics

## Analytics

Published EOIR records include 642 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 54 (8.4%) and denied in 586 (91.3%); 2 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics)

## Biography

### Professional career

- Professional background: Senior Legal Advisor to the Chief Appellate Immigration Judge, Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) (2021–2022) Attorney Advisor, BIA (2015–2021) Judicial law clerk, BIA (2013–2015) Judicial law clerk, Eloy Immigration Court (2011–2013)
- Judge Kassell’s rates are notably higher than both national and court-specific averages, indicating a stricter disposition on asylum claims

### Education

- B.A., College of New Jersey (2008) J.D., Rutgers Law School (2011)

### Additional information

- Baltimore Immigration Court: Decided 300 asylum cases (FY 2021–first 9 months FY 2026).
- Appointments: Appointed by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) to begin hearing cases in October 2022.
- Joseph S. Kassell is a U.S. Immigration Judge appointed in October 2022, serving at both the Baltimore and Charlotte Immigration Courts, with a record of high asylum denial rates compared to national averages.
- Pennsylvania Bar.
- Charlotte Immigration Court: Decided 143 asylum cases in the same period.
- Denial rates vary due to judicial philosophy, case mix, detention status, and immigration policy, not just individual judgment.
- Outcomes: 25 asylum granted, 12 other relief granted, 263 denied.
- Outcomes: 9 asylum granted, 3 other relief granted, 131 denied.

## Sources

Identity source checked August 30, 2026 .

Biography sources checked October 11, 2026 .

### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory

Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 30, 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

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