A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Bhagat, Nimmo (IJ code BHA, Houston, TX):
Overall track record
37 years on the bench (since 1990), 10,695 cases total, lifetime grant rate 7.3%
Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,718 cases, grant rate 6.1% — roughly in line with the Houston court average (3.8%)
Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)
Nationality / Cases / Grant rate Honduras 1124 2.4% Mexico 611 5.4% Guatemala 522 3.2% El Salvador 401 3.6% Venezuela 338 13.3% Cuba 198 15.3% Nicaragua 172 6.1% Colombia 130 1.6% Nigeria 46 44.2% Ecuador 27 3.8% India 15 6.7%
Nigeria applicants see a 44.2% grant rate versus 1.6% for Colombia applicants — a 27.8× gap on this judge's docket.
Year-by-year
2023: 991 cases, 8.8% grant rate 2024: 1041 cases, 4.2% grant rate 2025: 981 cases, 7.8% grant rate 2026: 705 cases, 2.8% grant rate
If you've appeared before Judge Bhagat, 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, May 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.