Judge Christopher J. Thielemann

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Thielemann, Christopher J. (IJ code CTN, Dallas, TX):

Overall track record

8 years on the bench (since 2019), 11,817 cases total, lifetime grant rate 2.1%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 10,324 cases, grant rate 1.1% — roughly in line with the Dallas court average (1.5%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras              3035    0.2%
Mexico                1890    2.2%
Guatemala             1840    0.2%
Venezuela             1054    0.4%
El Salvador            904    0.2%
Nicaragua              399    0.0%
Cuba                   392    0.0%
Colombia               249    0.9%
Nigeria                 73   18.4%
Peru                    72    0.0%
Romania                 55    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023: 2583 cases, 1.5% grant rate
2024: 1852 cases, 1.5% grant rate
2025: 3524 cases, 1.1% grant rate
2026: 2365 cases, 0.3% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Thielemann, 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.