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 Ian R Simons earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1998 from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor in 2001 from Michigan State University College of Law. Before his appointment, he served as an assistant chief counsel with the Office of the Chief Counsel, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Detroit (2009-2016), as a special assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Arizona (2011-2013), and as an assistant prosecutor with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office in Michigan (2001-2009). He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,251
Completions per year
7,506 total
19.6%
Detained at decision
share of cases
16.5 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
20.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
8.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
6.6%
Appeals remanded or reversed
213 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.
28.8%
Bond requests granted
264 bond decisions High confidence
$10,000
Median bond when set
58 bonds with amounts
21.1%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 28.8%
Court average 44.2% · median $8,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
38.3%
980 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
3%
1,259 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
38.7%
119 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
75%⚠
16 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
78.3%
69 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
57.8%
469 decisions High confidence
38.3%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 980 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
38.3%
This court
29.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 32% 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 · 887 decisions since 2021
41.5%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 93 decisions since 2021
7.5%
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).