WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The U.S. Department of Justice has appointed four Indian American lawyers as immigration judges, marking a notable addition to the federal immigration court system. The appointments come as part of a broader effort to reduce a large case backlog and improve efficiency across courts. The new judges — Dimple Gupta, Anupriya Krishna, Revathi Muneer, and Akash B. Vyas — were among 42 immigration judges sworn in during a March investiture ceremony led by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The ceremony took place at the Department of Justice’s Great Hall in Washington.
The appointments reflect a continued push by the Executive Office for Immigration Review to address the growing immigration court backlog. Officials said the backlog has already declined by more than 380,000 cases since January 2025. Bondi emphasized the importance of the new judges in tackling pending cases. She said the administration remains focused on ensuring decisions rely strictly on the law.“These highly qualified judges will help us deliver timely decisions,” Bondi said during the ceremony.
Dimple Gupta will serve at the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia. She most recently worked as deputy general counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Gupta has held several high-level legal roles in the federal government. She previously worked at the Central Intelligence Agency and served as senior counsel to the director of EOIR. Her career also includes positions with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice.
She clerked for Judge Jerry E. Smith of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Gupta earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and her law degree from Harvard Law School.
Anupriya Krishna will take her role at the Sterling Immigration Court in Virginia. She most recently served as associate general counsel at EOIR. Krishna spent nearly six years at the Board of Immigration Appeals in Falls Church, Virginia. There, she worked in several roles, including senior panel attorney and supervisory attorney advisor. Earlier in her career, she worked at the Social Security Administration. Krishna holds degrees from The Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, and George Washington University Law School.
Revathi Muneer will serve at the Houston–Jefferson Street Immigration Court. She brings more than two decades of experience in immigration law and policy. Muneer recently worked as assistant chief counsel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She also spent many years with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in various roles, including asylum officer and supervisory asylum officer. Earlier, she worked with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service in Los Angeles. Muneer earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law.
Akash B. Vyas will serve at the Chicago Immigration Court. He most recently worked as assistant chief counsel with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Chicago. Before that, Vyas spent over 15 years as an assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. His experience includes handling a wide range of criminal cases. Vyas earned his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and his law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.
The Department of Justice continues to focus on improving the immigration court system. EOIR Director Daren K. Margolin also spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the importance of adding experienced judges. All four newly appointed judges are expected to begin hearing cases in March 2026. Officials said their work will help speed up case processing and improve access to justice.
The appointments also reflect the growing presence of Indian American professionals in key legal roles across the United States. As immigration courts face ongoing pressure, these judges will play a critical role in shaping decisions that affect thousands of individuals and families.
