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

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

Immigration judges

Michael G. Walleisa

Immigration Judge, Miami Immigration Court. Appointed August 2018 by Jeff Sessions.

Asylum record, FY 2021-2026

TRAC source →
Judge Walleisa72.7%
Miami court71.5%
All judges nationally62.9%
Decisions on the merits
473
Asylum granted
79
Other relief granted
50
Denied
344
Against own court
+1.2 pts
Denial rate by fiscal year
FY21FY22FY23FY24FY25
74%79%71%65%80%

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

Docket

Respondents represented by counsel: 78% (nationally, 81% are represented).

Most common nationalities: Guatemala (19.9%), Cuba (19%), Honduras (12.5%), Nicaragua (10.1%), Colombia (8.9%).

Official biography

Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Michael G. Walleisa to begin hearing cases in August 2018. Judge Walleisa ear ned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981from Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and a Juris Doctor in 1985 from Temple University School of Law. From1989 to 2018, he worked in several roles in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida in Miami. From 2002 to 2018, he was assistant U.S. attorney with the National Security Section. From 1996 to 2002, he was assistant U.S. attorney with the Civil Division. From 1993to 1996, he was chief of the Narcotics and Violent Crimes Section. From 1992 to 1993, he was chief of the Trial Section. From 1991 to 1992, he was deputy chief of the Major Crimes Section. From 1990 to 1991, he was assistant U.S. attorney with the Organized Crime Section. From 1989to 1990, he was assistant U.S. attorney with the Appeals/Major Crimes Sections. From 1985 to1989, he was an attorney with the State Attorney's Office in Dade County, Fla. Judge Walleisa isa member of the Florida Bar.

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 Miami

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.