Judge Francisco Mendez

A few numbers worth knowing if you have a hearing in front of Judge Mendez, Francisco (IJ code FMZ, Arlington, VA):

Overall track record

8 years on the bench (since 2019), 3,907 cases total, lifetime grant rate 16.4%

Last 3 years (2023–2026): 2,289 cases, grant rate 10.6% — roughly in line with the Arlington court average (10.9%)

Nationality breakdown (2023–2026 cumulative)

Nationality / Cases / Grant rate
Honduras               476    5.9%
Guatemala              367    2.9%
El Salvador            334   17.8%
Bolivia                300    3.3%
Mexico                 131    2.4%
Peru                   129    0.9%
Nicaragua              101   16.5%
Venezuela               80   13.6%
Colombia                62    0.0%
Turkey                  38   44.4%
Afghanistan             27   69.2%

Year-by-year

2023:  507 cases, 13.9% grant rate
2024:  386 cases, 17.1% grant rate
2025:  740 cases, 8.5% grant rate
2026:  656 cases, 6.1% grant rate

If you've appeared before Judge Mendez, 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.