The Honorable Immigration Judge Sondra J Miller-Wein
Hyattsville, MD Immigration Court
Appointed November 2023 · President Joe Biden→ Attorney General Merrick Garland
2 years on the immigration bench
Appointed under a Democratic administration
Background
The Honorable Immigration Judge Sondra J Miller-Wein earned a Bachelor of Science in 1985 from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Before her appointment, she established and managed Immigration Law Options LLC (2009-2023), practiced immigration law with the firm of David E. Piver (2008-2009), and served as a staff attorney at HIAS Philadelphia (2004-2008). Earlier she was a general practitioner (1997-2004) and insurance defense litigator (1994-1997) and clerked for Judge Robert A. Freedberg (1992-1993). She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
424
Completions per year
2,118 total
0.8%
Detained at decision
share of cases
11.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
23.2%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
7%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
—
Appeals remanded or reversed
only 3 appeals — too few
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
45.5%
422 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
24.2%
413 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42A (LPR)
100%⚠
1 decision Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
100%⚠
3 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
95.8%⚠
24 decisions Too few cases
45.5%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 422 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
45.5%
This court
42%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 24% 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 · 357 decisions since 2021
47.9%
Without a lawyerunrepresented · 65 decisions since 2021
32.3%
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).