# Luisa Santiago

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

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Luisa Santiago 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 397 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 82 (20.7%) and denied in 314 (79.1%); 1 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics)

## Biography

### Professional career

- Unit Chief Immigration Judge at the Sterling Immigration Court in Virginia, appointed in December 2021, with a record of high denial rates in asylum cases compared to national averages
- U.S. Army Judge Advocate: 2011–2020, Supervisor and Senior Legal Advisor in administrative/civil and criminal law, stationed in Afghanistan, Kansas, Iraq, and North Carolina
- ICE: 2008–2011, Assistant Chief Counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, DHS, Miami
- M.L.L., Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School (2005)

### Education

- American University Washington College of Law — J.D. (2001)
- in Labor and Industrial Relations, Cornell University — B.S. (1991)

### Additional information

- Appointment: December 2021 by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
- M.B.A., UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (2021)
- Representation: 92% of respondents in her docket are represented by counsel.
- Duties: Supervisory responsibilities over immigration court units and direct case adjudication
- U.S. Army: Served 30 years active/reserve, including roles as Criminal Prosecutor, Senior Operational Legal Advisor, and leadership positions in Germany, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland, and Afghanistan.
- Member of the Minnesota State Bar and North Carolina Bar.

## 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

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)