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 Daniel J Santander earned a Bachelor of Science in 1990 and a Juris Doctor in 1994, both from the University of Arizona. Before his appointment he served as an assistant chief counsel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (2008-2010) and as a U.S. Army trial counsel and judge advocate in Iraq (2008-2009). Earlier he was a judge pro tempore for Pima County courts (2007-2008), an assistant U.S. attorney in Arizona (1999-2005), and an assistant district counsel for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (1996-1999).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
2,354
Completions per year
14,123 total
7.2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
25.8 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
30.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
1%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
59.6%
Appeals remanded or reversed
47 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.
52.4%⚠
Bond requests granted
21 bond decisions Too few cases
$7,500
Median bond when set
11 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 52.4%
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
40.2%
413 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
5.4%
464 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
58.8%
51 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
90.9%⚠
11 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
81%⚠
21 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
99.1%
110 decisions Moderate
40.2%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 413 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
40.2%
This court
30.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 30% 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 · 351 decisions since 2021
43.9%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 62 decisions since 2021
19.4%
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).