Appointed February 2013 · President Barack Obama→ Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.
13 years on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Democratic administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Craig A Harlow earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1989 from Lubbock Christian University in Lubbock, Texas, and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio. From 1992 to 2013 he worked for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in various capacities, including roles in Oakdale, New Orleans, and Dallas. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,300
Completions per year
7,802 total
6.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
35.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
12.6%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
2.6%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
12%
Appeals remanded or reversed
25 appeals decided
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
100%⚠
Bond requests granted
8 bond decisions Too few cases
$10,000
Median bond when set
8 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 100%
Court average 64.8% · median $10,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
36.3%
405 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
4%
506 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
52.8%
72 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
7 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
66.7%⚠
9 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
82.9%⚠
41 decisions Too few cases
36.3%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 405 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
36.3%
This court
30.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 34% 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 · 354 decisions since 2021
40.7%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 51 decisions since 2021
5.9%
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).