A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Palomino, Jacinto (IJ code JP1, Otero, NM):
Overall track record
31 years on the bench (since 1996), 5,163 cases total, lifetime grant rate 6.0%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,322 cases, grant rate 3.3% — 3.8pp below the Otero court average (7.2%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Mexico 862 2.8% Venezuela 270 0.8% Guatemala 261 1.5% Honduras 189 1.9% Colombia 99 2.3% Ecuador 92 0.0% Nicaragua 86 1.4% Cuba 78 15.7% El Salvador 66 1.6% China 31 4.5% Turkiye 31 13.8%
Year-by-year
2023: 113 cases, 3.7% grant rate 2024: 287 cases, 4.2% grant rate 2025: 1068 cases, 1.6% grant rate 2026: 854 cases, 5.5% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Palomino, 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.