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 Richard W Vanveldhuisen earned a Bachelor of Science in 1987 from Northeastern University, a Juris Doctor in 1990 from California Western School of Law, and a Master of Arts in diplomacy and international relations in 2004 from Seton Hall University.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
664
Completions per year
3,982 total
9.1%
Detained at decision
share of cases
17.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
22.2%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
10.9%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
10.7%
Appeals remanded or reversed
28 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.
67.6%
Bond requests granted
188 bond decisions Moderate
$2,500
Median bond when set
122 bonds with amounts
0.8%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 67.6%
Court average 62.1% · 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
27.4%
620 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
3.5%
933 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
25%⚠
16 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
88.9%⚠
9 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
84.6%
208 decisions High confidence
27.4%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 620 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
27.4%
This court
27.1%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 49% 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 · 518 decisions since 2021
31.5%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 102 decisions since 2021
6.9%
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).