What does the public record show about Judge Frankenfield?
EOIR's notice of August 27, 2026 lists Jason S. Frankenfield as a temporary immigration judge for Elizabeth, appointed to begin hearing cases in August 2026. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1999 from Baylor University, a Juris Doctor in 2002 from Villanova University School of Law, a Master of Laws in 2015 from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, and a Master of Strategic Studies in 2020 from the U.S. Army War College. From August 2020 to July 2026 he was an Army staff judge advocate at posts in Georgia, Germany and California. Earlier Army roles included trial attorney, special assistant U.S. attorney and chief of military justice. He was an associate at White and Williams LLP in Philadelphia from 2008 to 2009 and an assistant district attorney in Reading, Pennsylvania, from 2003 to 2005. The notice gives his rank as colonel and his bar as Pennsylvania. As of October 30, 2026, our searches found no published appellate decision or news report about his work as a judge.
What does it mean that he is a temporary judge?
It does not make a hearing less binding. Under 8 C.F.R. § 1003.10(e), a temporary immigration judge has an immigration judge's authority to adjudicate assigned cases. The appointment runs for renewable terms of no more than six months. EOIR's Elizabeth page lists two temporary judges separately from the court's other judges. If a judge becomes unavailable, 8 C.F.R. § 1240.1(b) lets another judge complete the case after becoming familiar with the record and saying so on the record. In a detained case, that matters. Filing deadlines are set by the judge rather than by the usual calendar rules, and they can be short, so a change of judge is a reason to confirm every date at once, not to wait. An order from a temporary judge can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals like any other, and the appeal period is explained in our individual hearing guide.
How do I find a relative held in Elizabeth, and which court has the case?
The court and the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility are both at 625 Evans Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201; the court is in Room 148A. Start with ICE's Online Detainee Locator at ice.gov/locator. ICE says the best search uses the A-number and country of birth; a name search must match the detention record exactly, and juveniles do not appear. Then call the facility at (908) 282-5700 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. with the person's full name, any aliases, date of birth and country of birth. Detainees cannot receive incoming calls; for an urgent message, give that number the person's name and A-number and your contact details. The court's phone is 908-787-1355. Being held near a court does not prove which court has the case. EOIR's Administrative Control List says Elizabeth may have jurisdiction over cases from several sites, among them Delaney Hall and Moshannon Valley. With the A-number, use the line at 1-800-898-7180 and our hearing guide, then call the court.
Can family attend, and what are the entry rules?
EOIR policy says hearings are generally open and visitors need no permission to observe, but this court sits inside a DHS-controlled detention facility, so facility rules apply too. EOIR's manual says people may need advance clearance at detention facilities, and phones, laptops and other devices are banned at some of them. EOIR's Elizabeth page says all visitors go through a metal detector and bag screening, and may be asked to remove shoes, and it sends visitors to the facility's website for entry details. Call the court before traveling. For visits with the detained person, as opposed to the hearing, ICE says adults need a valid, verifiable government-issued ID card, minors need an adult with them, and social visits are non-contact. A new family and friends schedule took effect on October 19, 2026 and varies by housing unit, so read ICE's current table before you travel. Lawyers schedule visits in advance through ICE's ERO eFile system. An asylum hearing is open unless the respondent asks to close it, and a witness may be asked to wait outside.
Can someone held at Elizabeth get a bond hearing?
It depends on the facts and on the law where the person is held. New Jersey and Pennsylvania are in the Third Circuit, which on August 28, 2026 rejected the government's reading in Buele Morocho, while the Board of Immigration Appeals says in Matter of Yajure Hurtado that immigration judges cannot hear bond requests from people present without admission. The Supreme Court has taken the question, and our bond hearing guide, current to October 30, 2026, explains the split. A transfer to Texas or Louisiana, in the Fifth Circuit, could change the answer. Some people cannot get bond whatever the outcome, including those under mandatory detention. Also ask about federal habeas corpus. EOIR's case website says to contact the local court for bond information, so call the court.
When should we call a lawyer?
Immediately. Detained cases move fast, and filing dates are set by the judge. Have the full name, A-number, country of birth and facility ready, and keep a written record of every call. If the detained person fears returning to any country, he or she should say so in court. If anyone offers to file for you, confirm that the person is an attorney or accredited representative. Ace Immigration's attorney, Anna Tsibel, is a Russian-speaking immigration attorney licensed by the California bar, focused on asylum and deportation defense. No lawyer can promise an outcome, but a consultation can tell you what your own papers show.