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

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

Immigration judges

David Russo

Immigration Judge, Memphis Immigration Court. Appointed March 2020 by William P. Barr.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Russo61.5%
Memphis court70.1%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
730
Asylum granted
241
Other relief granted
40
Denied
449
Against own court
-8.6 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25FY26
39%60%44%58%62%79%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 95% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Guatemala (22.2%), Honduras (18.4%), El Salvador (11.9%), Venezuela (10%), Mexico (8.5%).

Official biography

Attorney General William P. Barr appointed David A. as an immigration judge in March 2020.Judge Russo ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 1990 from Tulane University and a Juris Doctor in1995 from the Louisiana State University School of Law. From 2017 to 2020, he served as adeployable field counsel, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency,Department of Homeland Security, at disaster locations nationwide. From 2011 to 2016, heserved as a deputy state judge advocate for the Georgia National Guard, in Atlanta. From 2008 to2011, he was a partner with Herman & Russo PC, in Woodstock, Georgia. From 2000 to 2008,he served as a judge advocate for the U.S. Army in the following locations: Ft. McPherson,Georgia; Germany; Iraq; and Kuwait. Judge Russo is a member of the Georgia 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 Memphis

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.