EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / Dat T. Vo
Judge Dat T. Vo
Houston - S. Gessner Road Immigration Court · Houston - S. Gessner Road, Texas · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
Houston - S. Gessner Road Immigration Court in Houston - S. Gessner Road, Texas is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with Texas. EOIR venue and transfer rules determine where an individual case is heard, so respondents should follow the location on their latest notice.
Immigration Judge Role and Case Types
Immigration judges are trial-level adjudicators who preside over removal proceedings. They decide whether a respondent is removable and consider applications for relief such as asylum, withholding of removal, protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), and cancellation of removal. They also hear bond matters when the court has jurisdiction. EOIR does not publish individual immigration judge decision statistics in the same way the Social Security Administration publishes Administrative Law Judge disposition statistics.
Professional Role
Immigration Court Dat T. Vo was appointed as a temporary immigration judge to begin hearing cases in April 2026. Judge Vo earned a Bachelor of Science in 2000 and a Master of Business Administration in 2007 from the University of Massachusetts Boston, a Juris Doctor in 2016 from South Texas College of Law Houston, and a Master of Laws from the University of Houston Law Center. From 2024 to 2026, he served as an estate and gift tax attorney for the Internal Revenue Service. Since 2022, Judge Vo has served in both active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Prior to that, he worked for an investment bank in Houston for 16 years, holding various positions including team lead, manager and vice president in production management. He holds the rank of captain. Judge Vo is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Immigration judges are attorneys appointed by the Attorney General. EOIR's published qualifications call for at least seven years of post-bar-admission legal experience. Judges serve as trial-level adjudicators in the immigration court system; they are not attorneys for either side.
Immigration Process and Respondent Resources
This page is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, court procedures, and enforcement policies can change. Deadlines and options depend on your case and the notices you received. Talk with a qualified immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative about your situation.