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

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

Immigration judges

Lisa Ann J. de Cardona

Immigration Judge, Sterling Immigration Court. Appointed August 2016 by Loretta E. Lynch.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Cardona44.0%
Sterling court71.6%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
125
Asylum granted
60
Other relief granted
10
Denied
55
Against own court
-27.6 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY24FY25
39%62%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 92% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: El Salvador (16%), Honduras (16%), Nicaragua (9.6%), Peru (8.8%), Guatemala (7.2%).

Official biography

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch appointed Lisa Ann J. de Cardona to begin hearing cases in August 2016. Judge de Cardona ear ned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1986 from St. Joseph's University and a Juris Doctor in 1990 from the Widener University School of Law. From 2013 to May 2016, she served as associate program director for the Office of Legal Access Programs, Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Department of Justice (DOJ). From 2012 through 2013, and previously from 2002 through 2007 and 1991 through 1998, she served as an attorney advisor for the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), EOIR, DOJ. From 2007 through 2011, she served as a supervisory attorney advisor for the BIA. From 1990 through 1991, she served as a law clerk for the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer, EOIR, DOJ, entering on duty through the Attorney General's Honors Program. Judge de Cardona is a member of the New Jersey State and Pennsylvania Bars.

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 Sterling

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.