Hon. Ashley Tabaddor
Distinguished Visiting Jurist
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1994
J.D., Hastings College of the Law, 1997
Member, California State Bar
The Honorable A. Ashley Tabaddor is a nationally recognized expert in immigration and administrative law, with over two decades of experience across all three branches of the federal government. Most recently, she served as Chief Counsel for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, a position she held as a senior appointee in the Biden-Harris administration. In this role, she was instrumental in advising on and implementing national immigration policies.
Prior to her service at USCIS, Judge Tabaddor served for over 15 years as a U.S. Immigration Judge in Los Angeles, presiding over one of the nation’s largest and most complex immigration dockets. She was elected President of the National Association of Immigration Judges, where she led national efforts to promote judicial independence and improve the immigration court system. In recognition of her expertise, she has testified before both the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Subcommittees in support of establishing an independent immigration court.
Due process and the rule of law are not technicalities—they are the foundation that separates democracy from authoritarianism. As lawyers, we are the first and last line of defense.
Prior to her service at USCIS, Judge Tabaddor served for over 15 years as a U.S. Immigration Judge in Los Angeles, presiding over one of the nation’s largest and most complex immigration dockets. She was elected President of the National Association of Immigration Judges, where she led national efforts to promote judicial independence and improve the immigration court system. In recognition of her expertise, she has testified before both the U.S. Senate and House Judiciary Subcommittees in support of establishing an independent immigration court.
Her earlier government service includes positions as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California, a trial attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and an attorney advisor for the immigration courts.
Judge Tabaddor has been honored with numerous awards recognizing her leadership and public service, including judicial excellence awards from multiple bar associations and the Federal Bar Association’s “Government Lawyer of the Year” award. She has previously taught as an adjunct professor at UCLA School of Law and now joins Southwestern Law School as a Distinguished Visiting Jurist.
Judge Tabaddor earned her B.A., cum laude, from UCLA and her J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). Through her teaching, scholarship, and advocacy, she remains a committed voice for equity, justice, and the rule of law.