Judge Jem C. Sponzo (New York - Federal Plaza, NY) approved 82.7% of decisions at final hearings over 5 years — 624 such decisions in total. National average: 34.9%. Average in this court: 70.8%.
This judge's approval rate is 47.8 pp higher than the national average and 11.9 pp higher than the court average.
At final hearings with this judge, applicants with an attorney were approved in 83.0% of decisions, without an attorney — in 50.0%. 99.0% of applicants had an attorney.
Over 5 years, judge Jem C. Sponzo completed 6,324 cases. Decisions at the final hearing (approval or denial): 624; the rest are decisions at preliminary hearings, in-absentia removals, denials without a hearing, closed, terminated and other cases.
The median time from the start of a case to the decision with this judge is 31 mo.: half of the cases are decided faster, half take longer.
For new removal cases, this judge's first master hearing is set on average (median) 2 mo. after the case is filed with the court. Court average: 3 mo. Nationwide: 46 days.
If the case was transferred to this court from another one (change of venue), this judge's first hearing is set on average (median) 11 mo. after the transfer. Court average: 7 mo. Nationwide: 48 days.
This judge sets the final (individual) hearing on average (median) 27 mo. after the master hearing; for half of cases, 16 mo. to 43 mo. Court average: 18 mo. Nationwide: 12 mo. The judge already has 1,527 final hearings scheduled; 95% of them are before the end of 2029.
In absentia (the person did not come to the hearing), removal was ordered in 39.6% of all cases; without a merits hearing (pretermission), 9.6% were denied. These cases are not part of the approval rate.
New York - Federal Plaza, NY. Court page lists all judges of this court and their approval rates.
This is EOIR data (Executive Office for Immigration Review, US Department of Justice) released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), as of September 30, 2026. How the figures are calculated — see “How we calculate”.
Sponzo, Jem C., immigration judge (New York - Federal Plaza, NY). Asylum and other protection-from-removal approval rate at final hearings over 5 years: 82.7%, with 624 such decisions. National average: 34.9%. Court average: 70.8%. Share of applicants with an attorney: 99.0%.
