ASYLUMJUDGE · IMMIGRATION JUDGE PROFILE
Kristofer R. McDonald
Los Angeles (WLA) · Los Angeles, CA
Kristofer R. McDonald is listed with Los Angeles (WLA). The database records 774 asylum outcomes: 111 approved, 663 denied, and 0 other outcomes. Historical statistics are informational and cannot predict an individual case. · 2021-03-25 – 2026-06-25
Yearly changes
Yearly asylum decision trend
Fiscal yearDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 20265102848205.5%
FY 202526383180031.6%
Applicant origin
Asylum decisions by fiscal year and nationality
FY 2026 · 2025-10-01 – 2026-07-01 · EOIR
NationalityDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 2026 · Guatemala2025-10-01 – 2026-06-178718601.1%
FY 2026 · Mexico2025-10-29 – 2026-06-226526303.1%
FY 2026 · Colombia2025-10-03 – 2026-06-226306300.0%
FY 2026 · El Salvador2025-12-23 – 2026-06-255005000.0%
FY 2026 · Nicaragua2025-10-03 – 2026-06-02494450—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Honduras2025-10-06 – 2026-06-12420420—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Peru2025-10-07 – 2026-05-05300300—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Venezuela2025-11-12 – 2026-05-21190190—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Russia2025-10-06 – 2026-06-01174130—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · China2025-10-16 – 2026-06-2216880—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ecuador2025-11-19 – 2026-05-08140140—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Armenia2025-11-05 – 2025-12-227070—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · India2025-11-19 – 2026-06-086060—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Cameroon2025-11-24 – 2026-02-174130—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ghana2026-01-26 – 2026-04-063030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Iran2026-02-13 – 2026-04-273210—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Vietnam2025-12-03 – 2026-04-293030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Guinea2026-04-01 – 2026-04-013030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Jamaica2026-06-11 – 2026-06-113030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ethiopia2025-11-26 – 2026-02-193030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Egypt2026-01-09 – 2026-02-063030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Nigeria2025-10-09 – 2026-01-302020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Mauritania2025-12-12 – 2026-01-072020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Yemen2025-10-31 – 2025-10-311010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Haiti2025-10-02 – 2025-10-021100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Eritrea2026-05-14 – 2026-05-141100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Jordan2026-03-25 – 2026-03-251010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Senegal2026-03-30 – 2026-03-301010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Uganda2026-05-06 – 2026-05-061100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Bangladesh2026-01-14 – 2026-01-141010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Kirghizia (Kyrgyzstan)2026-02-09 – 2026-02-091100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Turkey2026-06-09 – 2026-06-091010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Angola2025-12-12 – 2025-12-121100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Afghanistan2025-10-01 – 2025-10-011010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Sudan2026-06-10 – 2026-06-101100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Indonesia2026-06-23 – 2026-06-231010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Brazil2026-05-14 – 2026-05-141010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Cuba2026-01-23 – 2026-01-231010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Syria2026-05-21 – 2026-05-211010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
Official appointment record
Judge background and appointment
Official biography
Kristofer R. McDonald was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in November 2024. Judge McDonald earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from California Western School of Law. From 2016 through 2024, he was an associate attorney with the firm of Lane & Nach PC in Phoenix, where he represented Chapter 7 trustees in corporate and consumer bankruptcies. From 2015 to 2016, he was a private immigration practitioner in Chandler, Arizona. From 2009 to 2015, he served as an appellate attorney with the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL), Civil Division (CIV), Department of Justice (DOJ). During his tenure with OIL, from 2010 to 2011, he was detailed to Federal Programs, CIV, DOJ, where he served as lead and co- counsel in Guantanamo Bay habeas corpus litigation pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. From 2008 to 2009, he served as a judicial law clerk at the Miami Immigration Court, and from 2007 to 2008, he served as a judicial law clerk at the Los Angeles Immigration Court, entering on duty through the Attorney General's Honors Program. Judge McDonald is a member of the State Bar of California.
Education: Judge McDonald earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from California Western School of Law.
Bar admission: Judge McDonald is a member of the State Bar of California.
EOIR Announces 18 New Immigration Judges and 6 New Appellate Immigration Judges (2024-11-06) →
This page shows only verifiable official appointment and biography records. No departure record does not confirm current service; personnel changes are labeled only with reliable sources.
How to read approval rates
Decision approval rateis approved ÷ (approved + denied). Blue “Other” is shown separately and includes identifiable withholding/CAT protection, cancellation or adjustment, voluntary departure, withdrawal, termination, dismissal, and administrative closure; it is excluded from the rate denominator.Approved share of all outcomesuses approved, denied, and other outcomes in the denominator.
With small samples, a few cases can move the percentage sharply. The page flags samples below 50 and below 200 decisions.
View methodology and sources →
AsylumJudge organizes public EOIR immigration-court data and provides no legal conclusion for any individual case.
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