Press Release

Investiture of Two New Immigration Judges from Laredo

Washington | Olya Voytovich, DC Press Secretary (202-226-1583); Leslie Martinez, District Press Secretary (956-286-6007), March 15, 2019

Today, Judge Melissa Joy Garcia and Judge Elizabeth Martinez from Laredo, Texas, were sworn in as Immigration Judges by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). For years, Congressman Cuellar has made it a top priority to obtain funding for additional Immigration Judges and get attorneys from the border to pursue these important positions. Through the appropriations process, the Congressman has secured a total of 215 judges. These additional judges will help adjudicate immigration cases and increase immigration court efficiency.


On Friday, the Office of Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) attends the investiture ceremony of two new Immigration Judges from Laredo, Elizabeth Martinez and Melissa Joy Garcia. Pictured from left to right: Judge Elizabeth Martinez, Representative Cuellar’s Executive Assistant Madeline Abadie, and Judge Melissa Joy Garcia