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 Michael S. Pleters was appointed an immigration judge in June 2017 and assigned to the El Paso Immigration Court. Before joining the bench, he served as a prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,282
Completions per year
7,693 total
62%
Detained at decision
share of cases
1.2 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0.4%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
2.5%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
15.1%
Appeals remanded or reversed
126 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.
35.9%
Bond requests granted
2,010 bond decisions High confidence
$4,000
Median bond when set
693 bonds with amounts
0.1%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 35.9%
Court average 32.8% · 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
11.8%
296 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
8.6%
732 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
16.9%
59 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
78.6%⚠
28 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
58.3%⚠
12 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
71.9%
612 decisions High confidence
11.8%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 296 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
11.8%
This court
16.8%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 23% 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 · 114 decisions since 2021
16.7%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 182 decisions since 2021
8.8%
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).