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 Katherine L Hansen earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1986 from Morningside College, a Juris Doctor in 1991 from Drake University School of Law, and a Master of Laws in 1997 from Wayne State University School of Law. Before her appointment, she served as a senior staff attorney for Iowa Legal Aid (2016-2017), as a district court judge for Michigan's 36th District Court in Detroit (2004-2016), as an assistant attorney general for the State of Michigan (2000-2004), and as a member of the Michigan Employment Security Board of Review in Lansing (1993-1999).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,588
Completions per year
9,525 total
4%
Detained at decision
share of cases
20.5 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
23.5%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
3.7%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
22.2%
Appeals remanded or reversed
36 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.
31.6%⚠
Bond requests granted
19 bond decisions Too few cases
$7,500
Median bond when set
20 bonds with amounts
16.7%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 31.6%
Court average 39.1% · median $5,000
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
50.7%
580 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
7.1%
482 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
67.9%
112 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
90%⚠
20 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
87%
54 decisions Moderate
Voluntary departure
89.1%
239 decisions High confidence
50.7%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 580 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
50.7%
This court
16.7%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 18% 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 · 549 decisions since 2021
53.4%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 31 decisions since 2021
3.2%
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).