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

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

Immigration judges

Mimi Tsankov

Immigration Judge, New York/Federal Plaza Immigration Court. Appointed November 2006.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Tsankov6.5%
New York court47.7%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
635
Asylum granted
556
Other relief granted
38
Denied
41
Against own court
-41.2 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22FY23FY24FY25
10%5%5%9%

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 (33.3%), India (11.8%), Bangladesh (7.9%), Honduras (5.5%), Nepal (5.5%).

Official biography

Mimi E. Tsankov was appointed as an immigration judge in November 2006. She received a bachelor of arts degree in 1986 from James Madison University; a master of arts degree in 1990 from the University of Virginia, Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics; and a juris doctorate in 1990 from the University of Virginia School of Law. From June 2001 to November 2006, Judge Tsankov was in private practice in San Diego and Los Angeles. From July 1998 to October 1999, she worked in the private sector. Judge Tsankov served as an assistant district counsel for the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in New York from September 1995 to July 1998. During this time, from February 1997 to February 1998, she served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. Judge Tsankov was an asylum officer with the INS in New York from November 1994 to September 1995. She served as an attorney advisor with the Peace Corps, Office of Inspector General, in Washington, D.C., from May 1992 to November 1994. From October 1990 to April 1992, Judge Tsankov was in private practice in Washington, D.C. She is a member of the Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and New York 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 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.