Judge Dean S. Tuckman

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Tuckman, Dean S. (IJ code DST, El Paso Detained, TX):

Overall track record

10 years on the bench (since 2017), 3,604 cases total, lifetime grant rate 4.7%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,010 cases, grant rate 3.9% — roughly in line with the El Paso Detained court average (5.4%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Mexico                 894    2.5%
Venezuela              236    4.5%
Guatemala              189    1.9%
Honduras               170    1.3%
Colombia                81    3.4%
El Salvador             59    2.0%
Nicaragua               58   11.9%
Ecuador                 52    0.0%
Cuba                    51   10.3%
China                   22   10.5%
Brazil                  19   10.0%

Year-by-year

2023:  194 cases, 11.7% grant rate
2024:  391 cases, 3.5% grant rate
2025:  801 cases, 2.7% grant rate
2026:  624 cases, 3.1% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Tuckman, 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.