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

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

Immigration judges

Lori Yokoyama

Immigration Judge, Chicago Immigration Court. Appointed December 2022.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Yokoyama57.7%
Chicago court49.0%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
123
Asylum granted
14
Other relief granted
38
Denied
71
Against own court
+8.7 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY23FY24
51%72%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 74% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Nicaragua (13%), India (11.4%), Venezuela (10.6%), Mexico (9.8%), Russia (8.9%).

Official biography

Lori S. Yokoyama was appointed as an Immigration Judge to begin hearing cases in December 2022. Judge Yokoyama ear ned a Bachelor of Science in 1977 from Northeastern Illinois University, a Juris Doctor in 1980 from DePaul University, College of Law, a Master of Business Management in 1994 from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University. From 2000 to 2022, she was the founding and mana ging partner at Yokoyama & Associates, P.C. where she represented individuals in immigration cases. From 2012 to 2019, she was co-managing partner at Sanchez, Daniels, Yokoyama, Hastie, and Greene, and from 1988 to 2000, she was a partner at Sanchez and Daniels. From 1981 to 1988, she was an associate at Hinshaw, Culbertson, Moelmann, Hoban & Fuller. Judge Yokoyama is a member of the Illinois State Bar and the State Bar of Texas.

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 Chicago

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.