EOIR Immigration Judge
EOIR resources / Immigration judges / Scott Ison
Judge Scott Ison
Kansas City Immigration Court · Kansas City, Missouri · Immigration Judge
Court Assignment
Kansas City Immigration Court in Kansas City, Missouri is this judge's listed court assignment and serves cases associated with Missouri. 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
Scott Ison was appointed as an immigration judge to begin hearing cases in April 2026. Judge Ison earned a Bachelor of Science in 1997 from the University of Central Missouri and a Juris Doctor in 2000 from Washburn University School of Law. From July 2021 to March 2026, he served as the chief counsel of infrastructure and recreation and as an assistant prosecuting attorney for the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. From December 2017 to July 2021, he served as the city attorney and prosecuting attorney for the City of Republic, Missouri. From October 2013 to December 2017, he served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Lafayette County, Missouri. From April 2008 to September 2014, he served as an assistant prosecuting attorney and special assistant prosecuting attorney in Clay County, Missouri. From March 2007 to April 2008, he served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Henry County, Missouri. Judge Ison is a member of the Missouri Bar.
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.