New York · est. 2013Friday, September 4, 2026
Inside Immigration

Plain-language guides to US immigration, asylum and USCIS procedure.

Immigration judges

Elliot Kaplan

Immigration Judge, Annandale Immigration Court. Appointed April 2021.

LenientGrants far more often than the national average-35.9 points

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Kaplan27.0%
Arlington court46.3%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
152
Asylum granted
108
Other relief granted
3
Denied
41
Against own court
-19.3 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY22
22%

Read from TRAC's chart to the nearest point. Years with fewer than 25 decisions are not shown.

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 97% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: El Salvador (44.7%), Honduras (23.7%), Guatemala (5.9%), Ethiopia (5.3%), China (3.3%).

Official biography

Elliot M. Kaplan was appointed as a Unit Chief Immigration Judge to begin supervisory immigration adjudication center duties and hearing cases in April 2021. Judge Kaplan ear ned his Bachelor of Arts in 1998 from Antioch University, a Master of Business Administration in 1982from Whittier College, and a Juris Doctor in 1982 from Whittier Law School. From 2019 to2020, he was Of Counsel to Kutak Rock LLP, in Kansas City, Missouri. From 2004 to 2019, hewas in private practice, in Kansas City. From 1995 to 2003, he was a Partner and Founder of Daniels & Kaplan PC, in Detroit and Kansas City. From 1991 to 1994, he was Of Counsel to Berman, DeLeve, Kuchan & Chapman LLC, in Kansas City. From 1990 to 1991, he was Of Counsel to DeWitt, Zeldin & Bigus PC, in Kansas City. From 1985 to 1990, he was Of Counselto Husch, Eppenberger, Donohue, Cornfeld & Jenkins, in Kansas City. From 1983 to 1985, hewas Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Air One Inc., in St. Louis. Judge Kaplan is a member of the Missouri Bar. Communications and Legislative Affairs Division

As published by the Executive Office for Immigration Review at appointment, via TRAC.

In the record

No published reporting or appellate decisions naming this judge have been collected yet.

Other judges at Arlington

Court page →

About these figures. Denial rates describe outcomes in the cases a judge happened to hear, which differ by detention, nationality and representation. They are not a measure of fairness or competence. Method and sources are on the judges index.