James McHenry, Immigration Violations, Virginia 2016

Immigration violators may breathe a sigh of relief as James McHenry was appointed as an administrative law judge (ALJ) in EOIR’s Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO), effective November 14, 2016.

McHenry’s arrival at OCAHO will greatly increase the office’s capacity to adjudicate cases of illegal hiring and employment eligibility verification violations, complaints of discrimination based on an individual’s citizenship status or national origin or over-documentation in the employment eligibility verification process, and allegations of immigration-related document fraud.

James McHenry, a seasoned attorney, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. McHenry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1997 from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, a Master of Arts degree in 2003 from the Vanderbilt University Graduate School, and a Juris Doctor in 2003 from the Vanderbilt University Law School.

McHenry’s most recent position was as an ALJ for the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Social Security Administration, in Baltimore, from February to November 2016. Prior to that, he served as a senior attorney for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Atlanta, from 2010 through 2014.

Other notable positions held by McHenry include special assistant U.S. attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia, DOJ, in Atlanta, from 2010 through 2011, and assistant chief counsel for OPLA, ICE, DHS, in Atlanta, from 2005 through 2010.

McHenry is a member of the Tennessee State Bar and has a long history of serving in various capacities within the immigration and customs enforcement agencies.

With McHenry’s appointment, OCAHO is poised to take on a greater role in the adjudication of immigration-related cases.

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