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 Thanos Kanellakos earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 from Loyola College of Maryland and a Juris Doctor in 1989 from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Before his appointment, he maintained a solo practice in York, Pennsylvania focused on immigration and nationality law (2004-2021) and earlier a solo practice in Baltimore focused on immigration and criminal defense (1990-2003), served as a panel attorney with the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (1992-2003), and worked as a part-time assistant attorney with the Baltimore County Public Defender's Office (1990-1992). He is a member of the Maryland State Bar.
Caseload & process (since 2021)
1,028
Completions per year
6,166 total
29.1%
Detained at decision
share of cases
7.9 mo
Median time to decision
from case start
16.5%
Ordered removed in absentia
person absent
7.9%
Decisions appealed to BIA
appeal rate
11.5%
Appeals remanded or reversed
52 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.
20.6%
Bond requests granted
175 bond decisions Moderate
$10,000
Median bond when set
84 bonds with amounts
0%
Released on own recognizance
This judge 20.6%
Court average 25.5% · median $10,500
National 41.9% · median $6,500
Grant rates by type of relief
Share granted among merits decisions for each application type, since 2021.
Asylum
30.6%
607 decisions High confidence
Withholding / CAT
9.3%
923 decisions High confidence
Cancellation — 42B (non-LPR)
23.8%⚠
21 decisions Too few cases
Adjustment of status (245)
88.9%⚠
18 decisions Too few cases
Voluntary departure
98.2%
112 decisions Moderate
30.6%
of asylum claims granted on the merits High confidence
Based on 607 asylum decisions (grants + denials) since 2021.
This judge
30.6%
This court
42%
National average
31.8%
0%100% granted
In the top 43% 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 · 573 decisions since 2021
32.3%
Without a lawyer⚠unrepresented · 34 decisions since 2021
2.9%
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).