A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Garcia, Emmanuel (IJ code ELG, Laredo, TX):
Overall track record
7 years on the bench (since 2020), 3,427 cases total, lifetime grant rate 0.1%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,420 cases, grant rate 0.1% — 3.4pp below the Laredo court average (3.5%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 1234 0.1% Honduras 407 0.0% Guatemala 346 0.0% Venezuela 346 0.0% Ecuador 165 0.0% Nicaragua 151 0.0% Colombia 150 0.0% El Salvador 131 0.8% Cuba 101 0.0% Dominican Republic 43 0.0% India 36 0.0%
Year-by-year
2024: 205 cases, 0.5% grant rate 2025: 1367 cases, 0.1% grant rate 2026: 1848 cases, 0.0% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Garcia, 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.