A person placed in expedited removal (for example, after being stopped at the border) has a credible fear interview. If the interview finds no credible fear, the person can ask an immigration judge to review that finding. Over 5 years, judges vacated the negative finding in 23.2% of reviews (118,708 reviews in total). After a vacate, a regular removal case begins, where the person can apply for asylum.
It is a removal order in which the judge named a country other than the country of citizenship. It is the country in the judge's decision, not the actual removal: ICE carries out removals. Over 5 years, this was the case in 2.6% of removal orders.
Over 5 years, bond was set or lowered in 48.6% of bond decisions (150,197 decisions in total). In 21.7% of cases the court has no authority to set bond — for example, under mandatory detention.
An in-absentia order is issued when the person did not come to the hearing: the judge does not consider the request for protection on the merits. So in the main mode (“Final hearings”) such cases are not part of the approval rate, and in the “All decisions” mode they count as denials. Here you can see how often they are reopened later.
It is a denial of an asylum application without a merits hearing — for example, on a DHS motion, when the judge decides the application cannot be granted even if the facts are proven. In the main mode (“Final hearings”) such cases are not part of the approval rate; in the “All decisions” mode they count as denials.
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”.
How a case moves through immigration court: bond, motions, hearing continuances, reopening of in-absentia orders, third-country removals, children’s cases.
