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

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

Immigration judges

Karen Hope

Immigration Judge, Los Angeles-North Los Angeles St. Immigration Court. Appointed December 2021.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Hope92.2%
Los Angeles - North court65.4%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
154
Asylum granted
12
Other relief granted
0
Denied
142
Against own court
+26.8 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22
93%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 94% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Honduras (31.8%), El Salvador (25.3%), Guatemala (20.1%), Nicaragua (14.9%), Colombia (3.9%).

Official biography

Karen Y. Hope was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in December 2021. Judge Hope ear ned a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 from San Diego State University, a Juris Doctor in 1993 from Pepperdine University, School of Law, a Master of Laws in 1994 from Georgetown University, School of Law, and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2006 from Georgetown University. From 2019 to 2021, she served as Senior Legal Advisor, Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 1995 to 2019, she served as an Attorney Advisor, BIA, EOIR, DOJ. From 1994 to 1995, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk, Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, entering on duty through the Attorney General's Honors Program. Judge Hope is a member of the State Bar of California and District of Columbia 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 Los Angeles - North

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.