What is Judge Kerry Vales's background?
EOIR's notice says that Kerry Vales was appointed in September 2026. Judge Vales earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2006 from Barry University and a Juris Doctor in 2009 from the St. Thomas University School of Law. From October 2025 to September 2026, she served as counsel with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in Miami. From August 2018 to October 2025, she was with the Oakland Park Field Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS, in Oakland Park, Florida, serving in the following positions: program manager (November 2023-October 2025); acting section chief (June 2022-October 2023); supervisory immigration services officer (February 2022-October 2023); and immigration services officer (August 2018-February 2022). From October 2017 to August 2018, she served as an asylum officer at the Miami Asylum Office, USCIS, DHS, in Miami. From September 2014 to October 2017, she served as a police officer with the City of Hollywood Police Department, in Hollywood, Florida.
What the official record establishes
The source lists the name Kerry Vales 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 Indianapolis 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.