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 Frank A Seminerio earned a Bachelor of Science in 2005 from Heidelberg University and a Juris Doctor in 2008 from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. From 2008 to 2012 he was an assistant district attorney with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office in Watertown, New York; from 2012 to 2017 he served as an administrative law judge with the New York State Department of Labor; and from 2017 to 2021 he was a supervising administrative law judge with the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance in Albany. He is a member of the New York State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,234
Completions per year
7,406 total
2%
Detained at decision
share of cases
14.3 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
24.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
22.5%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
9%
Appeals remanded or reversed
1,290 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.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
4 bond decisions Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 26.3% · median $4,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
27.9%
2,735 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.1%
2,431 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
97.6%
126 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
93.9%
147 decisions Moderate
27.9%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 2,735 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
27.9%
This court
68.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 48% 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 · 2,072 decisions since 2021
29.4%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 663 decisions since 2021
23.2%
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).