Judge Christopher Pineda

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Pineda, Christopher (IJ code CRP, Harlingen, TX):

Overall track record

30 years on the bench (since 1997), 3,029 cases total, lifetime grant rate 0.7%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,690 cases, grant rate 0.7% — roughly in line with the Harlingen court average (1.8%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Mexico                 867    0.5%
Honduras               573    0.0%
El Salvador            273    0.0%
Guatemala              270    0.0%
Nicaragua              203    0.0%
Ecuador                173    0.0%
Cuba                   149    2.8%
Venezuela               60    9.1%
Dominican Republic      24    0.0%
Colombia                21    5.0%
Peru                    14    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023:    7 cases, 0.0% grant rate
2024:    1 cases, 0.0% grant rate
2025:  568 cases, 2.9% grant rate
2026: 2114 cases, 0.3% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Pineda, 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.