Source: EOIR — Find an Immigration Court.
Recording an internet-based hearing is prohibited (8 C.F.R. § 1003.28). Respondents without a representative default to in-person hearings.
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Cathy Sagesse earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2004 from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor in 2007 from Stetson University College of Law. From 2016 to 2019, she served as an assistant chief counsel, Office of the Chief Counsel, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Miami. From 2007 to 2016, she served as an assistant state attorney for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office, in Miami. Judge Sagesse is a member of the Florida Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,162
Completions per year
6,971 total
2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
24.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
21.9%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
5.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 14 appeals — too few
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
49.3%
1,267 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
6.1%
765 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
71.9%
57 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%
106 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
100%
85 decisions Moderate
49.3%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 1,267 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
49.3%
This court
57.3%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 20% of the 825 judges nationally with enough cases to compare.
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyerrepresented · 1,065 decisions since 2021
57.4%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 202 decisions since 2021
6.9%
Asylum grant rate over time
Each point is that calendar year's grant rate, back to 2015 where the judge was deciding cases — the longer career view. Dashed grey line = current national average (31.8%). Headline rates above use 2021 – today.
* 2026 is a partial year (data through 06/01/2026) and is incomplete.
Courts where this judge has decided cases
Hearing locations for cases this judge completed since 2021, by number of decisions.
Many judges hear cases from more than one court (detained facilities, video dockets, or reassignments).