PUERTO RICO · JUSTICE
Key Facts
- Who Julia Díaz-Rex, a former federal prosecutor in San Juan who is also an immigration judge.
- What President Donald Trump nominated her as US Attorney, the chief federal prosecutor, for Puerto Rico.
- When The White House sent the nomination to the Senate on 10 November.
- Next The Senate must confirm her; Héctor Ramírez Carbó has been acting US Attorney since 7 July.
Puerto Rico's top federal prosecutor job has been run by an acting chief since July, and President Trump has now named his choice to fill it permanently.
President Donald Trump has nominated Julia Díaz-Rex to be the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, the chief federal prosecutor on the island. Metro Puerto Rico, a Puerto Rican news outlet, reported on 11 November that the nomination went to the Senate on 10 November, and NotiCel, another island outlet, also reported the nomination.
Puerto Rico is a US territory whose residents are US citizens, and the US Attorney’s office prosecutes federal crimes there. The post needs Senate confirmation and carries a four-year term.
Who Julia Díaz-Rex Is
Díaz-Rex is a former federal prosecutor in the San Juan office, where she led the narcotics unit, NotiCel reported. El Nuevo Día, a Puerto Rican daily, reports that she is a colonel in the US Army Reserve, and Metro says she has served as an immigration judge, a judge in the Justice Department’s immigration courts, since March 2019.
NotiCel puts her years as a federal prosecutor at 2005 to 2019. Her credentials should be checked against the Justice Department biography once it is published.
Who She Would Replace
She would succeed W. Stephen Muldrow, the outgoing US Attorney, who announced his resignation on 2 July after more than 37 years at the Justice Department. Metro reports that Héctor E. Ramírez Carbó has been the Acting US Attorney since 7 July, and the Justice Department lists him with that title.
Earlier in July, El Nuevo Día reported that Díaz-Rex was among those considered for the post. The nomination now makes the choice formal, but it does not take effect until the Senate votes.
What Happens Next
Nominations for US Attorney normally go to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel that reviews them, before a floor vote. No hearing date has been announced in the reports we cite.
What It Means for You
For companies, residents and investors in Puerto Rico, the office’s priorities shape how federal cases are pursued. Until a confirmed prosecutor takes over, the acting chief continues to run the office.
What Is Not Known
It is not known when the Senate will hold a hearing or vote, or what priorities Díaz-Rex would set. Our Puerto Rico coverage will follow the confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Trump nominate for US Attorney in Puerto Rico?
Julia Díaz-Rex, a former federal prosecutor in San Juan and a current immigration judge. The nomination went to the Senate on 10 November.
Does the Senate have to confirm her?
Yes. US Attorneys are nominated by the president and must be confirmed by the Senate.
Who runs the office now?
Héctor E. Ramírez Carbó has been the Acting US Attorney since 7 July, after W. Stephen Muldrow resigned.
Sources: Metro Puerto Rico (11 November 2026); NotiCel (11 November 2026); El Nuevo Día (11 November 2026); US Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico (7 July 2026)
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated AI newsroom. Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief. The Rio Times also runs Ask Rio Times, which answers from 100,000+ of our own articles, the daily Latin America Power Map, and prediction-market odds on elections and markets.. How we use AI · Report an error