TERESE TADROS-IBARRA
Rancho Santa Margarita
Summary
Forward thinking and assertive judge with strong dedication to upholding justice and fairness. Adept at navigating complex legal issues with clear and articulate communication skills, promoting balanced and fair courtroom environment. Proactive in seeking innovative solutions to legal challenges and committed to delivering equitable outcomes. Demonstrates exceptional leadership and relentless pursuit of judicial excellence.
Overview
2
2
Languages
1
1
Certification
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Immigration Judge, IJ-00-03
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2021.09 - Current
- Conduct merits hearings and adjudicate relief applications involving asylum, withholding of removal, protection under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal for nonpermanent and permanent residents, special rule cancellation of removal under the Violence Against Women Act, and adjustment of status.
- Adjudicate cases involving denials of Petitions to Remove Conditions on Residence and Petitions by Investors to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
- Adjudicate motions to terminate or dismiss proceedings, motions for removal in absentia, motions to reopen proceedings, motions to change venue, motions for continuance, motions to suppress evidence, and motions to withdraw and/or substitute as counsel, as well as motions to pretermit by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pursuant to Matter of H-A-A-V-, 29 I&N Dec. 233 (BIA 2025).
- Conduct weekly master calendar hearings for adult non-detained dockets, which involves taking pleadings, setting deadlines, adjudicating oral motions, and determining corroborating evidence required for individual merits hearings.
- Conduct mental competency hearings pursuant to Matter of M-A-M-, 25 I&N Dec. 474 (BIA 2011), to determine whether an alien is mentally competent to understand the nature of removal proceedings and if found to be incompetent, determine the necessary safeguards to ensure that proceedings are sufficiently fair.
- Completed 1,145 cases from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
- Volunteer and treasurer for the Court’s Committee on Personnel Engagement, which involves organizing court-wide staff events, such as Administrative Professionals’ Day and annual holiday party.
- Office of the Chief Immigration Judge, Santa Ana Immigration Court, Santa Ana, CA
Supervisory Attorney Advisor, GS-15-3
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2021.02 - 2021.09
- Supervised team of 8 attorneys, which involved reviewing complex case issues involved in the adjudication of appeals before the BIA, resolving and deescalating conflicts, addressing human resource issues, and conducting team meetings to convey important information relating to the BIA’s overall mission and policies.
- Primary rating official for staff attorneys’ performance evaluations, which involved assessing attorneys’ work products and conducting mid-year and annual reviews for each attorney.
- Reviewed and revised attorneys’ draft decisions relating to federal circuit court remand cases.
- Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Falls Church, VA
Attorney Advisor, GS-15-2
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2015.11 - 2021.01
- Reviewed and analyzed records of proceedings, including appellate briefs, hearing transcripts, and documentary evidence, and performed extensive legal research of case law in various jurisdictions.
- Prepared decisions for the adjudication of immigration appeals in cases involving detained aliens with criminal convictions, denials of asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, motions to reopen, termination of proceedings, bond appeals, visa petitions, and appeals by the Department of Homeland Security.
- Primary author of precedential BIA decisions, Matter of Flores-Abarca, 26 I&N Dec. 922 (BIA 2017), which addresses the scope of state criminal convictions concerning firearms offenses as a basis for removability; and Matter of Tavdidishvili, 27 I&N Dec. 142 (BIA 2017), which holds that criminally negligent homicide in violation of New York law is not a categorical crime involving moral turpitude.
- Co-presenter at Acquiescence and Torture under the Convention Against Torture, a continuing legal education seminar for Appellate Immigration Judges and staff attorneys.
- Collaborated with Appellate Immigration Judges to discuss recommended dispositions of appeals and revisions to proposed decisions.
- Managed high-volume caseload consisting of 65 to 75 cases on a regular basis and successfully met all target deadlines for the adjudication of appeals.
- Attended en banc hearings and oral arguments before the BIA.
- Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Falls Church, VA
Senior Associate
Beach-Oswald Immigration Law Associates
2013.01 - 2015.10
- Conducted initial client consultations regarding immigration matters and advised clients as to potential forms of relief.
- Managed firm’s support staff, which included 4 to 5 paralegals and 2 legal interns.
- Appeared for interviews with clients before USCIS officers for applications for adjustment of status, naturalization, and hardship waivers under section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as well as petitions for alien relatives, religious workers, and to remove conditions on temporary residence.
- Successfully represented clients in removal proceedings before the U.S. Immigration Courts in Maryland and Virginia in cases involving asylum, withholding of removal, cancellation of removal, and adjustment of status.
- Prepared successful motions to reopen before the BIA based on changed country conditions, ineffective assistance of counsel, and the BIA’s sua sponte authority.
- Drafted appellate briefs in cases involving adverse decisions by USCIS regarding family-based visa petitions and waivers of inadmissibility, as well as denials of asylum, withholding of removal, and cancellation of removal applications by Immigration Judges, for appeals before the Administrative Appeals Office and the BIA.
- Prepared and filed writs of mandamus before the U.S. District Courts for the adjudication of applications for adjustment of status and naturalization outside of USCIS’s normal processing times.
- Ensured that all work carried out conformed to the highest standard of legal and professional ethics.
- Facilitated the implementation of a law office management software program, which enhanced the firm’s recordkeeping and increased the firm’s overall efficiency.
- Washington, DC
Associate
Law Offices of Irena I. Karpinski
2011.07 - 2012.12
- Represented clients in immigration matters, including family-based petitions, U visa petitions for victims of crimes, asylum applications, consular processing, and waivers of inadmissibility.
- Prepared successful appeals of adverse decisions by USCIS regarding petitions for alien relatives and religious workers; prepared petitions for review before the U.S. District Courts for naturalization application denials and failure to timely adjudicate applications.
- Successfully represented individuals in removal proceedings before the U.S. Immigration Courts in cases involving cancellation of removal, asylum, withholding of removal, and adjustment of status.
- Represented clients in family law cases, including contested and uncontested divorces, custody, and child support matters, before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and Circuit Courts throughout the State of Maryland.
- Prepared discovery requests, conducted depositions of witnesses, and participated in court conferences and merits hearings for family law cases.
- Washington, DC
Partner
Christian Giro & Tadros, LLP
2009.01 - 2011.01
- Represented clients in criminal and traffic cases before the Superior Court of New Jersey.
- Represented clients in immigration matters, including preparing and filing family-based petitions and naturalization applications and attending interviews before USCIS.
Commercial Litigation Associate
Harwood Lloyd, LLC
2008.01 - 2008.01
- Represented corporate clients, including insurance carriers and corporations, in federal and state courts in cases involving personal injury matters, contract disputes, employment law and legal malpractice.
- Participated in court-ordered mediation and settlement conferences.
- Appeared in state and federal courts throughout New Jersey for oral argument, status conferences and arbitrations.
Adjunct Professor, Corporations and Partnerships
Montclair State University
2008.01 - 2008.01
- Taught Corporations and Partnerships course, providing instruction to up to 25 Pre-law and Paralegal studies undergraduate students.
- Developed and delivered engaging course content to enhance student learning experiences.
- Collaborated with faculty to integrate interdisciplinary approaches into curriculum design.
- Implemented innovative teaching strategies to increase student engagement and participation.
- Mentored students in academic and career development, fostering a supportive learning environment.
- Graded quizzes, tests, homework, and projects to provide students with timely academic progress information and feedback.
Civil Litigation Associate
Kalbian Hagerty, LLP
2004.01 - 2007.01
- Represented financial institutions, telecommunication companies, corporations and individuals in federal and state civil matters concerning contract, personal injury, employment law and intellectual property matters.
- Represented U.S. Embassy of foreign national government, which involved handling immigration matters, as well as criminal and civil cases, nationwide.
- Obtained favorable settlement against major Internet Service Provider for federal copyright infringement involving software licensing agreement,
- Prepared motions for summary judgment, motions to dismiss, motions for judgment on the pleadings and motions for preliminary injunction.
- Conducted and defended depositions of key witnesses.
- Argued substantive motions, including motions for injunctive relief and summary judgment, in state and federal courts throughout the State of Maryland.
Judicial Law Clerk
New Jersey Superior Court
2003.01 - 2004.01
- Drafted judicial opinions and legal memoranda for the disposition of motions to suppress evidence, motions to dismiss indictment, motions for post-conviction relief and municipal appeals for review by presiding judge.
- Researched case law and legal precedents to support judicial decision-making.
- Drafted jury charges and verdict sheets for all trials.
- Participated in jury selection for capital punishment case.
- Expedited expungement orders for indictable offenses.
Education
Juris Doctor -
Seton Hall University School of Law
Newark, NJ2003-01
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJSkills
- Immigration adjudication
- Legal decision writing
- Case analysis
- Legal research
- Docket management
- Team supervision
- Conflict resolution
- Motions practice
Certification
Bar Admissions: New Jersey, 2004; Maryland, 2005; and District of Columbia, 2011
Timeline
Immigration Judge, IJ-00-03
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2021.09 - Current
Supervisory Attorney Advisor, GS-15-3
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2021.02 - 2021.09
Attorney Advisor, GS-15-2
U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review
2015.11 - 2021.01
Senior Associate
Beach-Oswald Immigration Law Associates
2013.01 - 2015.10
Associate
Law Offices of Irena I. Karpinski
2011.07 - 2012.12
Partner
Christian Giro & Tadros, LLP
2009.01 - 2011.01
Commercial Litigation Associate
Harwood Lloyd, LLC
2008.01 - 2008.01
Adjunct Professor, Corporations and Partnerships
Montclair State University
2008.01 - 2008.01
Civil Litigation Associate
Kalbian Hagerty, LLP
2004.01 - 2007.01
Judicial Law Clerk
New Jersey Superior Court
2003.01 - 2004.01
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Montclair State University
Juris Doctor -
Seton Hall University School of Law