What is Judge Bret Engstrom's background?
EOIR's notice says that Bret Engstrom was appointed in July 2026. Judge Engstrom earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2009 from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor in 2012 from the University of Wyoming College of Law. From April 2020 to July 2026, he served as an assistant chief counsel with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Eloy, Arizona. From October 2016 to April 2020, he was a partner with the Americas Law Group PLLC in Mesa, Arizona. From December 2014 to April 2016, he was a solo practitioner with Eng law Group PLLC in Mesa, Arizona. From October 2013 to December 2014, he was an associate with McLean Law Firm PLC in Phoenix.
What the official record establishes
The source lists the name Bret Engstrom in 1 alphabetical row. The recorded title is Immigration Judge. The record is not an appointment history or an employment certification.
Dated court associations
EOIR’s court-specific tables associate this entry with Eloy Immigration Court. The relationship is recorded as listed 2026-10-20; it may include supervisory coverage rather than a merits-hearing assignment.
No outcome or personal-profile claims
This entry does not provide an asylum approval rate, predict a decision, or claim personal background not established by the cited source. Confirm the assigned judge and attendance details from your notice and the court. A change of judge does not by itself change deadlines or excuse attendance.