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 Robin Donato earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 from Princeton University and a Juris Doctor in 1991 from Boston University School of Law. She had a lengthy military legal career, including service as a senior attorney in the Criminal Law Division of Headquarters, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia (2020-2025), and worked part-time as an associate attorney beginning in 2001. Judge Donato is a member of the New Jersey and New York State bars.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
82
Completions per year
163 total
95.7%
Detained at decision
share of cases
4.6 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
0%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
40.5%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 6 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.
100%⚠
Bond requests granted
1 bond decision Too few cases
$7,500
Median bond when set
1 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 100%
Court average 50.5% · 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
2.9%⚠
35 decisions Too few cases
Withholding / CAT
0%
76 decisions Moderate
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
9.1%⚠
33 decisions Too few cases
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
50%⚠
2 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
22.2%⚠
9 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
81.8%
66 decisions Moderate
2.9%⚠
of asylum claims granted on the merits
Based on 35 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021. Fewer than 50 — treat this figure with caution.
This judge
2.9%
This court
9.4%
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 · 28 decisions since 2021
3.6%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 7 decisions since 2021
0%
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).