On Wednesday, October 1, 2025, Law360 reported that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Tamaira Rivera, a former immigration judge, settled a lawsuit filed in a Florida federal court. The lawsuit alleged that Rivera was denied a hardship transfer and reasonable accommodation based on her gender and age.

According to a joint notice, Rivera and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reached a consensus to resolve the remaining claim in the matter. Earlier in September, U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel C. Irick had dismissed several counts after finding Rivera failed to substantiate her bias claims. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and representatives from both parties have not yet issued statements.

Rivera, who described herself in the initial complaint as a disabled, Hispanic female over 50 years old and a Florida resident, filed the suit in October 2023 against then-U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. She accused the Attorney General of assigning her an excessive caseload, which she claimed exacerbated her existing health conditions. These conditions included major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and vasovagal syncope, ultimately leading to chronic insomnia.

Rivera was previously employed as a unit chief immigration judge within the DOJ’s Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) at the Richmond Immigration Adjudication Center in Virginia.

In addition to her own health issues, Rivera stated that her son had been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorder, and insomnia. Her mother was also suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Citing these challenges, Rivera applied for a hardship transfer to an open immigration judge position at the Orlando Immigration Court in 2022. She alleged that her application was wrongfully denied, and subsequent requests for reconsideration were also turned down. Rivera claimed that younger, non-Hispanic, non-female, and non-handicapped employees with less justification were granted hardship transfers to preferred locations, including the Orlando Immigration Court.

In September 2025, Judge Irick granted summary judgment to dismiss the majority of Rivera’s claims, stating that she did not provide enough evidence of discrimination. Judge Irick also noted that Rivera’s descriptions of other employees who received similar hardship transfers were vague. However, one count of disability discrimination was allowed to proceed, and it was this remaining count that was settled in Wednesday’s agreement.

 

 

Source: Law360