Judge David M. Paxton

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Paxton, David M. (IJ code DMP, Houston South, TX):

Overall track record

6 years on the bench (since 2021), 3,865 cases total, lifetime grant rate 3.0%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 3,632 cases, grant rate 1.8% — roughly in line with the Houston South court average (1.5%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras               860    0.5%
Mexico                 556    1.5%
Cuba                   500    1.9%
Venezuela              398    1.3%
El Salvador            283    1.9%
Guatemala              256    0.0%
Nicaragua              195    0.0%
Colombia               171    4.6%
Romania                 53    0.0%
China                   33    3.6%
Ecuador                 32    0.0%

Year-by-year

2023:  651 cases, 5.7% grant rate
2024: 1007 cases, 0.1% grant rate
2025:  971 cases, 1.8% grant rate
2026: 1003 cases, 0.8% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Paxton, 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.