Appointed May 2023 · President Joe Biden→ Attorney General Merrick Garland
3 years on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Democratic administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Rhana Ishimoto earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 from Brown University and a Juris Doctor in 2005 from Boston College Law School. She served as a deputy chief counsel and assistant chief counsel with ICE/DHS and worked as Corporation Counsel for the City of New York.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
196
Completions per year
1,178 total
2.6%
Detained at decision
share of cases
4 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
6%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
0.8%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 5 appeals — too few
Bond decisions
Custody redetermination (bond) rulings since 2021.
"Granted" means the judge lowered the bond, ordered release on recognizance, or otherwise granted the request.
0%⚠
Bond requests granted
1 bond decision Too few cases
—
Median bond when set
—
Released on own recognizance
This judge 0%
Court average 0%
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
40%⚠
25 decisions Too few cases
Withholding / CAT
6.9%⚠
29 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Voluntary departure
66.7%⚠
3 decisions Too few cases
40%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 25 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
This judge
40%
This court
37%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
Does a lawyer matter here?
Asylum grant rate by whether the person had legal representation.
With a lawyer⚠represented · 21 decisions since 2021
38.1%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 4 decisions since 2021
50%
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.
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).