New York · est. 2013Friday, September 4, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Immigration judges

David Kim

Immigration Judge, New York/Federal Plaza Immigration Court. Appointed October 2022.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Kim8.6%
New York court47.7%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
466
Asylum granted
399
Other relief granted
27
Denied
40
Against own court
-39.1 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY23FY24FY25
3%2%33%

Read from TRAC's chart to the nearest point. Years with fewer than 25 decisions are not shown.

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 96% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: China (31.7%), India (19%), Russia (7.6%), Bangladesh (7.3%), Nepal (6%).

Official biography

David K. S. Kim was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in October 2022. Judge Kim ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 1990 from Emory University, a Master of Public Administration in 1997 from West Virginia University, and a Juris Doctor in 2001 from Brooklyn Law School. From 2011 to 2022, he was in private practice as the Founder and Principal Attorney of the Law Office of David K. S. Kim PC, in Flushing, NY, where his practice was exclusively devoted to immigration and nationality law. From 2006 to 2011, he was a senior associate at Bretz & Coven, LLP in New York City. From 2003 to 2006, he was an associate at Kurzban, Kurzban, Weinger, and Tetzeli P.A. in Miami. From 2001 to 2003, he served as a staff attorney law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Kim is a member of the New York State Bar.

As published by the Executive Office for Immigration Review at appointment, via TRAC.

In the record

No published reporting or appellate decisions naming this judge have been collected yet.

Other judges at New York

Court page →

About these figures. Denial rates describe outcomes in the cases a judge happened to hear, which differ by detention, nationality and representation. They are not a measure of fairness or competence. Method and sources are on the judges index.