# Michael Pleters Immigration Judge · [El Paso SPC Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/el-paso-spc-immigration-court) ## Michael Pleters at a glance Current role Immigration Judge Court [El Paso SPC Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/el-paso-spc-immigration-court) Current assignment [El Paso SPC Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/el-paso-spc-immigration-court) Jurisdiction Texas · Federal Judicial service Active ## Hearings & court access EOIR publishes the following court assignment and hearing-access information for this judge. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. ### [El Paso SPC Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/el-paso-spc-immigration-court) Assigned court [El Paso SPC Immigration Court](/kyj/court/tx/el-paso-spc-immigration-court) Webex / internet [Join EOIR Webex ↗](https://eoir.webex.com/meet/IJ.Pleters) Telephone access 199 696 3319 EOIR lists Internet-based hearing links and telephonic access codes in its current hearing directory. The hearing notice and current EOIR instructions control whether a particular hearing is remote or in person. Unrepresented respondents generally appear in person unless EOIR directs otherwise. [EOIR hearing directory ↗](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/find-immigration-court-and-access-internet-based-hearings) · verified August 18, 2026 Historical EOIR data ## Outcomes at a glance Total outcomes 4,724 Relief granted 198 4.2% Denied / removal ordered 2,922 61.9% Other / procedural 1,604 34.0% National comparison for this selection: 9,249,024 outcomes; 10.0% relief granted; 52.0% denied / removal ordered; 38.0% other / procedural. Methodology and sources These are proceeding outcomes, not asylum application statistics. Completion years use EOIR COMP_DATE; 2026 contains partial-year data. Relief granted, denied / removal ordered and other / procedural exhaust the recorded outcomes. Groups of one are included. Historical outcomes do not establish a current assignment. Counts describe recorded cases and do not predict an individual's result. [Official EOIR case data](https://fileshare.eoir.justice.gov/EOIR%20Case%20Data.zip) · Source date: Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:14:27 GMT Asylum decisions and other statistics ## Analytics Published EOIR records include 546 asylum outcomes associated with this judge. Asylum was granted in 67 (12.3%) and denied in 445 (81.5%); 34 were other or procedural outcomes. [Explore analytics](#analytics) ## Biography ### Professional career - Appointed: July 2017 by Attorney General Jeff Sessions - Assistant Chief Counsel, DHS Office of Chief Counsel, El Paso (1999–2017) Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, D. N.M. (2011–2014) Assistant District Attorney, 34th Judicial District, El Paso (1994–1999) Law clerk to Hon. Harry Lee Hudspeth, W.D. Tex. (1992–1994) ### Education - Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University — J.D. (1992) ### Additional information - Michael S. Pleters is an immigration judge at the El Paso Service Processing Center (EPD) who, from FY 2021–2026, denied asylum in 79.8% of 218 cases, well above the national average of 62.9%. - Denial rates vary by judge due to case mix, detention status, representation, and policy environment — not solely judicial philosophy. - Admitted to: Texas and New York State Bars ## Sources Identity source checked August 19, 2026 . Biography sources checked October 10, 2026 . ### DOJ EOIR current immigration judge directory Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 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 ### Current EOIR official staff directory Current EOIR Official Staff Directory source · HTML · Source checked October 7, 2026 [Public Records & Data Use](/public-records-data-use) · [Corrections policy](/corrections) ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.1 — Delivery and Receipt](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-c9195b4f0bba01a19aa8df41) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-1). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 3.11 — Courtroom Decorum](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-8d8e8e8bf80478864645291a) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-3-11). Collected 2026-10-27. - [EOIR Practice Manual 2.3 — Documents](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-53ee093be24c18a5d1a93046) — Immigration Court proceedings only, not BIA or OCAHO. Preserve chapter-specific proceeding limits. Section-specific exceptions, waivers, later amendments and case orders remain applicable. This is a source excerpt, not an exhaustive statement of the rule. [Official source](https://www.justice.gov/eoir/policy-manual-eoir/part-II/icpm/chapter-2-3). Collected 2026-10-27.