Judge Stephen E. Mander

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Mander, Stephen E. (IJ code SEM, Miami, FL):

Overall track record

37 years on the bench (since 1990), 19,799 cases total, lifetime grant rate 35.2%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,976 cases, grant rate 10.0% — 4.4pp above the Miami court average (5.6%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Cuba                  2011   13.5%
Nicaragua              370    4.9%
Guatemala              289    8.1%
Venezuela              241    9.8%
Haiti                  233    2.2%
Honduras               229    9.5%
Colombia               177   16.3%
Mexico                  85   14.1%
Brazil                  69    2.2%
El Salvador             38   11.5%
Peru                    35   14.3%

Colombia applicants see a 16.3% grant rate versus 2.2% for Brazil applicants — a 7.5× gap on this judge's docket.

Year-by-year

2023:  707 cases, 22.4% grant rate
2024:  673 cases, 23.5% grant rate
2025: 1165 cases, 5.1% grant rate
2026: 1431 cases, 4.5% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Mander, I'd love to hear:

1. What's your nationality, and when was your most recent hearing?

2. How did your attorney prepare for this judge specifically?

Source: EOIR (U.S. Executive Office for Immigration Review) public statistics, July 2026 release, compiled by AsylumTracker. A judge's historical pattern does not predict the outcome of any individual case; this is shared to help set realistic expectations. Real-experience accounts from the community are welcome.