ASYLUMJUDGE · IMMIGRATION JUDGE PROFILE
Michael S. Pleters
El Paso (EPD) · El Paso, TX
Michael S. Pleters is listed with El Paso (EPD). The database records 363 asylum outcomes: 49 approved, 314 denied, and 0 other outcomes. Historical statistics are informational and cannot predict an individual case. · 2020-01-06 – 2026-06-30
Yearly changes
Yearly asylum decision trend
Fiscal yearDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 20264812360—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 20258577808.2%
FY 20249198209.9%
Applicant origin
Asylum decisions by fiscal year and nationality
FY 2026 · 2025-10-01 – 2026-07-01 · EOIR
NationalityDecisionsGrantedDeniedOtherApproval rate
FY 2026 · Cuba2025-10-23 – 2026-06-235050—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Nicaragua2025-11-21 – 2026-06-294130—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · El Salvador2025-10-20 – 2026-06-054040—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Iran2025-10-29 – 2026-04-134310—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · China2025-10-09 – 2026-03-113120—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Mexico2025-12-16 – 2026-04-103030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ecuador2025-11-07 – 2026-03-123030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Venezuela2025-11-18 – 2026-03-203030—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Colombia2025-10-28 – 2026-06-302020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Honduras2025-11-19 – 2026-02-272020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Peru2026-06-16 – 2026-06-262020—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Brazil2026-04-20 – 2026-04-201010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Russia2026-03-23 – 2026-03-231100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Vietnam2026-05-18 – 2026-05-181100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Yemen2026-04-01 – 2026-04-011100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Mauritania2025-11-03 – 2025-11-031010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Georgia2026-01-21 – 2026-01-211100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Bangladesh2026-01-06 – 2026-01-061010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Mali2026-03-17 – 2026-03-171100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Ukraine2026-03-12 – 2026-03-121010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Egypt2025-11-12 – 2025-11-121100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Cameroon2026-06-10 – 2026-06-101010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Guatemala2026-03-19 – 2026-03-191010—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
FY 2026 · Tajikistan (Tadzhik)2026-02-11 – 2026-02-111100—Fewer than 50; rate hidden
Official appointment record
Judge background and appointment
Official biography
Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Michael S. Pleters to begin hearing cases in July 2017. Judge Pleters earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. From 1999 to 2017, he served as an assistant chief counsel for the Office of Chief Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, in El Paso, Texas. From 2011 to 2014, he served as a special assistant U.S. attorney at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico. From 1994 to 1999, he served as an assistant district attorney for the Office of the District Attorney, 34th Judicial District, also in El Paso. From 1992 to 1994, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Harry Lee Hudspeth, Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Western District of Texas. Judge Pleters is a member of the Texas and New York State Bars.
Education: Judge Pleters earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987 from Columbia University and a Juris Doctor in 1992 from the Benjamin N.
Bar admission: Judge Pleters is a member of the Texas and New York State Bars.
Executive Office for Immigration Review Swears in 11 Immigration Judges (2017-06-16) →
This page shows only verifiable official appointment and biography records. No departure record does not confirm current service; personnel changes are labeled only with reliable sources.
How to read approval rates
Decision approval rateis approved ÷ (approved + denied). Blue “Other” is shown separately and includes identifiable withholding/CAT protection, cancellation or adjustment, voluntary departure, withdrawal, termination, dismissal, and administrative closure; it is excluded from the rate denominator.Approved share of all outcomesuses approved, denied, and other outcomes in the denominator.
With small samples, a few cases can move the percentage sharply. The page flags samples below 50 and below 200 decisions.
View methodology and sources →
AsylumJudge organizes public EOIR immigration-court data and provides no legal conclusion for any individual case.
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