Claudia R. Cubas: Advocate Turned Maryland Immigration Court Leader

Claudia R. Cubas is recognized by the Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter during Hispanic Heritage Month for her remarkable contributions to immigration law and public service. As the Assistant Chief Immigration Judge (ACIJ) for the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Judge Cubas now oversees Maryland’s two immigration courts in Baltimore and Hyattsville. Her journey from legal advocate to federal administrative judge reflects a deep and sustained commitment to immigrant justice, professional excellence, and community empowerment.

Judge Cubas, the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, began her legal career in Maryland and the D.C. region and has since become a widely respected voice in immigration law. Known for her deep legal knowledge, practical mentorship, and unwavering service to underrepresented communities, she has earned accolades not only from professional peers, but also from the many families her work has impacted.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, the FBA Maryland Chapter proudly celebrates Claudia R. Cubas for her leadership, legal skill, and lasting contributions to Maryland’s immigration justice landscape.

Legal Education and Advocacy in Maryland’s Immigration System

Claudia R. Cubas began her legal journey in Texas, earning her Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Thomas in Houston in 2005. Drawn to advocacy and public service, she pursued her J.D. at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, graduating in 2008. As a student attorney in Maryland’s immigration clinic, she developed her foundation in removal defense and immigrants’ rights—work that would become her professional calling.

After graduation, she entered private practice before becoming an Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow at the Central American Resource Center in D.C. From there, Judge Cubas joined what is now the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights (formerly the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition). Over nearly a decade, she served in key roles including supervising attorney, program director, and eventually litigation director—leading regional efforts on detention, asylum, and due process for immigrants.

Throughout her career, Judge Cubas has been known for her technical mastery and creative legal strategies. She guided advocacy teams through litigation on behalf of clients facing especially complex immigration proceedings, including those with mental disabilities or lacking legal representation. Her peers at the Amica Center affectionately referred to her as “EncycloClaudia” for her unmatched grasp of legal precedent and her ability to demystify the law for younger attorneys and pro bono counsel alike.

Elevation to the Federal Bench and Institutional Leadership

In 2022, Claudia R. Cubas was appointed as an Immigration Judge at the Hyattsville Immigration Court. In March 2024, she was elevated to Assistant Chief Immigration Judge for EOIR, where she now oversees both the Baltimore and Hyattsville courts. In this role, she supervises over 20 immigration judges and plays a key part in managing operations for two of the region’s busiest immigration courts.

As a judge and administrator, Judge Cubas brings the same rigor, empathy, and clarity that shaped her advocacy career. She continues to be deeply involved in ensuring that due process remains central to all proceedings before Maryland’s immigration courts. Her experience representing vulnerable individuals—including pro se respondents facing expedited removal—has informed her understanding of fairness, judicial responsibility, and the practical challenges that immigrants face in navigating the legal system.

Her elevation is not only a personal milestone, but a powerful symbol of representation in the federal judiciary. As a Latina immigrant rights advocate turned federal judge, Judge Cubas demonstrates what inclusive leadership looks like in practice—where legal precision is matched by humanity and care.

Recognition, Mentorship, and Ongoing Impact

Over the course of her career, Claudia R. Cubas has been recognized by legal peers, community leaders, and professional organizations for her work on behalf of immigrant communities. Most recently, she received the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association’s (MHBA) Leadership Award (Premio Liderazgo) at the 31st Annual Gala. This honor, awarded to legal professionals with extraordinary service and accomplishment, reflects the high regard in which she is held throughout Maryland’s legal community.

In her nomination remarks, Judge Llamilet Gutierrez praised Cubas as “a fierce Latina, Maryland lawyer, and an accomplished litigator.” Former colleague Adina Applebaum offered similarly powerful words, noting that Judge Cubas “has a rare blend of legal mastery with heart-led service” and “a deep passion for and belief in the rule of law and the fight for justice.”

Beyond her courtroom and administrative work, Judge Cubas has mentored dozens of attorneys, pro bono volunteers, and law students. Her practical guides, strategy memos, and training sessions are known for distilling dense legal material into actionable insights. She remains a resource and model for immigration attorneys and public interest professionals across the country.

Honoring Claudia R. Cubas During Hispanic Heritage Month

Claudia R. Cubas embodies the values that Hispanic Heritage Month seeks to elevate: leadership, perseverance, and meaningful service to others. Her legal work has advanced justice for countless immigrants in Maryland and the DMV region. As an Assistant Chief Immigration Judge, she now shapes the very institutions responsible for delivering due process to those navigating the immigration system.

Her career continues to reflect both excellence and humility—attributes that make her not only a powerful legal figure, but also a mentor, advocate, and changemaker. Judge Cubas’ journey from student attorney to ACIJ is one that inspires pride across Maryland’s legal community and hope across the immigrant families who depend on fair and compassionate courts.

The Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter is honored to spotlight Claudia R. Cubas during Hispanic Heritage Month. To learn more about upcoming events that highlight legal leaders in Maryland, visit the Federal Bar Association Maryland Chapter events page.