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 Raphael Rojas earned a Bachelor of Science in 1990 from Long Island University's C.W. Post Campus, a Juris Doctor in 1994 from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico School of Law, and a Master of Laws in health law in 1996 from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Before his appointment, he served as a superior judge (2008-2022) and municipal judge (2000-2006) in the Judicial Branch of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, with intervening periods of private practice. He is a member of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,646
Completions per year
9,879 total
4.3%
Detained at decision
share of cases
22.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
16.7%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
20.4%
Appeals remanded or reversed
49 appeals decided
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
18.4%
445 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
0.8%
610 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
50%⚠
4 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
50%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
62.5%⚠
16 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
100%
67 decisions Moderate
18.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 445 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
18.4%
This court
22.4%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 37% 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 · 400 decisions since 2021
19.5%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 45 decisions since 2021
8.9%
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).