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 Robert M Lewandowski earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1986 from the University of Pittsburgh and a Juris Doctor in 1989 from the College of William and Mary. He served as a U.S. Marine Corps judge advocate from 1986 to 2020. His civilian career included serving as U.S. Border Patrol sector counsel for Laredo, Texas (1996-2004) and in chief of staff and senior advisor positions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C. (2004-2020).
Caseload & process (since 2021)
568
Completions per year
3,407 total
58.7%
Detained at decision
share of cases
0.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
3.3%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
14.3%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
6.2%
Appeals remanded or reversed
64 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.
12.5%⚠
Bond requests granted
40 bond decisions Too few cases
$5,500
Median bond when set
4 bonds with amounts
20%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 12.5%
Court average 42.9% · median $7,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
8.9%
598 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
1.5%
1,094 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
3.6%
55 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
62.5%⚠
8 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
57.9%⚠
19 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
93.2%
161 decisions Moderate
8.9%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 598 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
8.9%
This court
32.6%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the bottom 16% 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 · 516 decisions since 2021
9.3%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 82 decisions since 2021
6.1%
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).