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 Luisa Santiago earned a Bachelor of Science in 1991 from Cornell University, a Juris Doctor in 2001 from American University Washington College of Law, a Master of Laws in 2005 from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School, and a Master of Business Administration in 2021 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She completed 30 years of active and reserve service in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2020, including service as a judge advocate (2011-2020) and as an assistant chief counsel with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (2008-2011).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
473
Completions per year
2,837 total
9.4%
Detained at decision
share of cases
22.1 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
26.5%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
10.4%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
22.5%
Appeals remanded or reversed
40 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.
56.6%
Bond requests granted
76 bond decisions Moderate
$5,000
Median bond when set
14 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 56.6%
Court average 50%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
21.3%
390 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
2.9%
618 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
25.9%⚠
27 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
75%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
87%⚠
23 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
86.2%
109 decisions Moderate
21.3%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 390 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
21.3%
This court
26.2%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 43% 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 · 350 decisions since 2021
23.4%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 40 decisions since 2021
2.5%
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).