# Arwen A. Swink

Former Immigration Judge · [San Francisco Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ca/san-francisco-immigration-court)

Last updated October 7, 2026

## Arwen A. Swink at a glance

Current role

Former Immigration Judge

Court

[San Francisco Immigration Court](/kyj/court/ca/san-francisco-immigration-court)

Jurisdiction

California · Federal

Judicial service

Former

## Immigration proceeding outcomes

No proceeding outcomes in this EOIR release are matched to this profile. Any separately published asylum statistics are available below.

## Biography

### Professional career

- Prior roles: Staff attorney, motions unit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2010–present) Associate attorney, Law Office of Robert B. Jobe (2006–2010)
- Arwen Ann Swink is a U.S. immigration judge for the San Francisco Immigration Court, appointed by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch in February 2017 to hear cases
- The Department of Justice has issued memos to judges urging them to adopt certain policy positions or consider leaving the judiciary Mission Local

### Education


### Additional information

- Denial rate: 15.9% in FY 2021–2026, compared to 28.4% for other San Francisco judges and 62.9% nationally.
- FY 2021–2026 (first 9 months): Decided 860 asylum claims; granted asylum in 686 (84.1% grant rate), other relief in 37, denied in 137.
- Swink’s asylum grant rate over FY 2020–2025 was 77.9%, and she was among judges with high grant rates targeted in the administration’s cuts Mission Local.
- FY 2020–2025: Decided 1,002 asylum claims; granted asylum in 781 cases (80.7% grant rate), other relief in 28, denied in 193.
- Case composition: 94% of respondents represented by counsel; common nationalities include India, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Nepal InsideImmigration.
- State Bar of California

## Sources

Identity source checked September 19, 2026 .

### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory

Identity source · HTML · Source checked September 19, 2026

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.1 - Delivery and Receipt

Courtwide source · HTML · Source checked July 30, 2026

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 2.3 - Documents

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.10 - Interpreters

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.11 - Courtroom Decorum

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.12 - Electronic Devices

### EOIR Policy Manual, Part II, Chapter 3.15 - Individual Calendar Hearing

### Find an Immigration Court and Access Internet-Based Hearings

[Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections)